Fig. 1

a Experimental design and monitoring of a mouse model of multiple myeloma to test Graft versus Myeloma and Graft versus Host Disease effects following allogeneic adoptive T cell therapy. MM-bearing Balb/c (Additional file 1: Figure S1) were irradiated and transplanted by i.v. injection of both BM cells and spleenocytes from healthy Balb/c donor mice. Immune reconstitution was validated by evaluation of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte population representation in BM and spleen (Additional file 1: Figure S4). These animals were referred to as “MM-Auto-BMT” mice. For ATCT experiments, on day 10 and in some experiments also on day 17 post Auto-BMT, mice received an infusion of B10.D2 or Balb/c Vβ 2, 3 and 8.3 positive T cells (MM-Auto-BMT-ATCT group). These Myeloma-reactive T cells (MT-cells) were isolated with antibody-coated magnetic beads from donor spleenocytes, pre-activated by MOPC315.BM cells or not (target-naïve cells) (see text). b Survival of myeloma bearing Balb/c mice treated by irradiation and autologous bone marrow transplant (Auto-BMT) and then allogeneic lymphocyte infusion. The presented results represent the average of two independent experiments. On day 10 after Auto-BMT, mice were injected i.v. with naïve or MOPC315.BM (target cell) activated B10.D2 Vβ 2, 3 and 8.3 T cells. Recipient mice were sacrificed when severe GvHD symptoms (GvHD score > 8/10), myeloma symptoms (e.g. paraplegia) or apathy were present. Statistical significance between survival curves was determined using the Log-Rank test. MM-Auto-BMT versus MM-Auto-BMT + Allo naive vβ 2, 3, 8.3 (× 1), *p = 0.005; MM-Auto-BMT versus MM-Auto-BMT + Allo activated vβ 2, 3, 8.3 (× 1), p = 0.137; MM-Auto-BMT + Allo naive vβ 2, 3, 8.3 (× 1) versus MM-Auto-BMT + Allo activated vβ 2, 3, 8.3 (× 1), p = 0.862