H-2-restricted graft-versus-host reaction: foreign determinants and restriction elements

Nylon-wool-purified T cells from radiation chimeras cause a lethal graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) in irradiated, bone-marrow-protected recipients only if the recipient shares a restriction element with the T-cell donor and also expresses antigens foreign to the donor. Class I molecules (H-2K and H-2D) can act as restriction elements, but restriction to class II molecules could not be demonstrated. However, class II molecules as well as H-2K and some non-H-2 determinants could serve as foreign antigens.