OBJECTIVETo investigate IFN-gamma producing-cells (IFN-gamma PCs) in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) model of mice.

METHODSEnzyme linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) was applied to study IFN-gamma PCs in MHC mismatched mice spleen cell MLR and aGVHD model of mice.

RESULTIFN-gamma PCs increased significantly in MLR after allogeneic mice spleen cell stimulation. In the experimental mice aGVHD model, IFN-gamma PCs were significantly higher in the severe aGVHD group than those in the moderate aGVHD. In the moderate aGVHD group, mice with GVHD prophylaxis regimen demonstrated significantly lower level of IFN-gamma PCs, compared with those without prophylaxis. IFN-gamma PCs were significantly correlated with the GVHD clinical scores in the group with moderate aGVHD and prophylaxis regimen.

CONCLUSIONELISPOT is a fast, sensitive and specific approach to evaluate alloresponse in allogeneic mice MLR and IFN-gamma PCs are correlated closely with the severity of aGVHD and prophylaxis regimen in the MHC-mismatched mice model.