Delayed allograft rejection by T cell receptor Vβ8.1 transgenic mice peripherally tolerized to Mls-1

One commonly studied model system for peripheral tolerance is the antigen-specific unresponsiveness of T cells from mice previously inoculated with superantigens such as Mls-1^a. In this study, we used a TcR Vβ8.1 transgenic mouse model to investigate whether mice peripherally tolerized to Mls-1^a exhibit delayed skin allograft rejection. We report dramatic prolongation of skin allograft survival in Vβ8.1 transgenic but not in non-transgenic mice tolerized to Mls-1^a. Peripherally induced unresponsiveness to Mls-1^a can, therefore, be considered true tolerance.