Figure 2.

T‐reg depletion augments donor T cell–dependent effector autoantibody responses and accelerates allograft rejection. MHC‐class II mismatched cardiac allografts from WT or T cell–deficient (TCR^−/−) bm12 donor mice were transplanted into unmodified WT C57BL/6 (B6) or T‐reg–depleted recipients and effector autoantibody responses (A), allograft survival (B), and allograft vasculopathy at explant on day 100 (C) was assessed (allograft vasculopathy for T‐reg–depleted recipients of WT bm12 heart allografts were not analyzed because of rapid graft destruction). T‐reg depletion results in augmented autoantibody responses (P = .04, Kruskal‐Wallis test) and rapid allograft rejection (*P < .0001, log‐rank test), but this impact is dependent on transfer of passenger donor T cells. Representative elastin van Gieson staining showing allograft vasculopathy in WT recipients compared to nondiseased vessels in (TCR^−/−) bm12 hearts transplanted into T‐reg–depleted recipients (scale bars 100 μM). *P = .03, Mann‐Whitney test. Data are expressed as mean ± SD and represents a minimum of 4 animals per group