Figure 1. Graft survival in NK cell
depleted recipients. A: 3-week-old (young) Lewis rats were
injected twice with a NK cell depleting antibody (3.2.3). Blood was
taken and analyzed by flow cytometry for the presence of CD3+
and CD161+ cells. Intraperitoneal injection of 3.2.3 lead to
complete absence of CD161+ NK/NKT cells and did not affect
cell numbers of CD3+CD161- T cells. FACS data
shown are representative for control animals that received an isotypic
antibody (NK+) or 3.2.3-treated rats (NK-). B: After injections
of either isotyp controls (NK+) or 3.2.3 (NK-) allogeneic penetrating
keratoplasty was performed and the grafts were assessed clinically
until rejection occurred. Albeit all recipients of both allogeneic
groups rejected, animals of group NK- showed a statistically
significantly delay of immunological allograft failure (p<0.01).
None of the syngeinic controls (groups syn.NK+ and syn.NK-,
respectively) rejected. C: NK cells were depleted in
10-week-old (old) Lewis rats (NK-) or isotypic antibody was injected
(NK+). NK cell depletion had no effect on graft survival rates.