Effect of anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody administration on rat small bowel allograft survival and circulating leukocyte populations

This study assessed the effect of an anti-rat CD4 monoclonal antibody (OX38) on heterotopic small bowel allograft rejection. Fully allogeneic small bowel transplants were performed in the PVG-to-DA-rat strain combination. Animals received either i) short course (days –1, 0 and 1) of 1 mg/kg per day OX38, ii) short course of 5 mg/kg per day or iii) extended course (days –2, –1, 0, 1, 2 and twice weekly thereafter) of 1 mg/kg per day. Both the high dose (13 days) and extended low-dose (12 days) courses prolonged graft survival compared to untreated control animals (7 days). The low-dose, short-course treatment had no effect. Similar regimens were given to animals that did not receive transplants and in which peripheral blood CD4⁺ cell counts fell to between 20 and 55 % of pretreatment levels and 20–30 % of binding sites were blocked. In summary, anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody therapy delayed rejection of rat small bowel allografts; however, long-term survival was not achieved. Received: 18 May 1999 Revised: 17 December 1999 Accepted: 28 January 2000     

Zoom endoscopic monitoring of small bowel allograft rejection

Background The small bowel has been successfully transplanted in patients with irreversible intestinal failure. This report aims to describe endoscopic monitoring of small bowel rejection. Methods A magnification endoscope (zoom endoscope) was used in this study. In the first part of the study (October 1998 to March 2000, 271 endoscopy sessions), the specific endoscopic findings that correlated with rejection were determined. An analysis then was performed on data from the second period (March 2001 to November 2002, 499 sessions) to evaluate the zoom endoscope’s accuracy in monitoring rejection. Results Specific endoscopic findings of rejection found in the first period included background erythema, villous congestion, blunted villous tip, and shortened villous height. When the rejection was successfully treated, endoscopic appearance returned to normal. On the basis of these findings, five endoscopic criteria (villous shortening, villous blunting, background erythema, villous congestion, and mucosal friability) were used to score endoscopic sessions in the second period. Endoscopic diagnosis of rejection was compared with histology. Adult patients showed a sensitivity of 45%, a specificity of 98%, a positive predictive value of 82%, and a negative predictive value of 88%. In pediatric patients, these values were, respectively, 61%, 84%, 57%, and 86%. On 59 distinct occasions (30 in period 1 and 29 in period 2) in which the results were endoscopy negative yet biopsy positive (mild) for rejection, we elected not to treat these rejections on the basis of clinical evaluation, and 58 (98%) resolved without further therapy. Conclusions With the use of magnification, endoscopy is a useful tool for monitoring acute rejection in the small bowel allograft. Part of this work was presented during the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), 29 March to 1 April 2000, Atlanta, GA.     

Failure of cyclosporine to prevent small bowel allograft rejection in pigs

The effect of cyclosporine (CyS) on survival and function of 250 cm intraabdominal heterotopic small bowel allografts was studied in outbred pigs. Experimental animals received oral CyS alone (25 mg/kg/day), or oral CyS, donor bowel radiation, and recipient splenectomy; controls were untreated. Excluding technical failures, no significant differences in graft survival were observed, although one relatively long-term survivor occurred in each treated group. Rejection was not related to cyclosporine levels. These data show that CyS as a single agent as well as when used with supplemental therapy does not uniformly prevent rejection of small bowel allografts in pigs, although an occasional long-term survivor will occur. The failure to achieve consistently successful engraftment may reflect the large quantity of lymphoid tissue in small bowel. Further experimentation is required before human transplantation is again attempted.     

Detection of cardiac allograft rejection and myocyte necrosis by monoclonal antibody to cardiac myosin

Indium 111-labeled monoclonal antibody to cardiac myosin was examined for efficacy in the detection of cardiac graft rejection and rejection-related myocyte necrosis. Heterotopic heart transplants were performed in isogenic and allogenic groups of rats (n = 56). At selected intervals posttransplant, uptake of injected antibody in the donor and native hearts was determined by gamma scintillation scanning. Indium uptake was compared to histologic results graded for the severity of rejection and the presence of myocyte necrosis. The donor heart uptake of labeled antibody was significantly greater in both moderate rejection and severe rejection than in lesser degrees of rejection (P = 0.05). The donor/native heart antibody uptake ratio (AUR) in both severe and moderate rejection were significantly different from no or mild rejection (P = 0.05). In pooled grafts without myocyte necrosis, both the absolute donor heart antibody uptake and the donor/native heart AUR were significantly greater in grafts with moderate or severe rejection than in those with no or mild rejection (P less than 0.001). Among grafts with moderate or severe rejection, those with myocyte necrosis had greater donor heart antibody uptakes and greater donor/native heart AUR than grafts without myocyte necrosis (P less than 0.001). The grade of rejection and the presence of histologic myocyte necrosis appear to be closely related but independent variables, both of which influence antibody uptake. It is concluded that monoclonal antibody to cardiac myosin may be a useful noninvasive tool that could distinguish moderate or severe rejection from lesser degrees of rejection and that could detect the presence of myocyte necrosis.     

大鼠移植小肠急性排斥反应期组织病理学研究

目的　探讨大鼠异位小肠移植急性排斥反应期移植小肠病理学特点及意义。方法　实验分 4组 ,每组 6只。A组为非手术对照组 ;B组为异系移植组 ;C组为同系移植组 ;D组为异系移植加环孢霉素A治疗组。术后 3 ,5 ,7,10d取移植小肠进行病理学检查 ,测量黏膜厚度 ,绒毛高度和隐窝深度 ;并检测 3 ,5 ,7d移植小肠黏膜细胞凋亡。结果　A组小肠黏膜正常 ;B组移植小肠炎性细胞浸润、黏膜结构破坏程度和黏膜细胞凋亡数目明显高于C ,D组 ,随移植时间的延长黏膜细胞凋亡数目增加 ,黏膜结构破坏程度加重 ;C组移植小肠黏膜结构损伤程度较B组轻 ;D组仅有少量炎性细胞浸润 ,间质轻度水肿 ,未见黏膜结构破坏。结论　炎性细胞浸润、黏膜细胞凋亡和黏膜结构破坏是移植小肠急性排斥反应损伤病理学变化的主要特点。动态观察移植小肠病理学变化和细胞凋亡 ,对诊断小肠移植急性排斥反应和估计损伤程度有一定的价值。     

Urine cytologic profile in renal allograft recipients determined by monoclonal antibodies. Diagnosis of allograft rejection

Controversy exists as to the type of cells present in the urine during renal allograft rejection. In order to resolve this controversy as well as to evaluate the value of urine sediment examination as a means of detecting AR, we quantitated the different cells present in urine during AR using an immunoperoxidase technique and monoclonal antibodies reactive with lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, glomerular epithelial, tubular, and urothelial cells. Urine sediment (n = 176) was examined serially over 3 months in 15 transplant recipients. There were 12 episodes of early posttransplant acute tubular necrosis and 21 episodes of AR. It was possible to detect AR as well as to distinguish AR from ATN. Lymphocyte and tubular cell excretions were increased significantly during AR. Excretion of urothelial cells was also significantly increased during most episodes of AR suggesting that rejection of ureters occurs concomitantly with rejection of the kidneys.     

Immunopathology of renal allograft rejection analyzed with monoclonal antibodies to mononuclear cell markers

The composition of the mononuclear cell infiltrate in rejecting renal allografts was determined on 96 renal biopsies and 22 nephrectomy specimens by the use of monoclonal antibodies to mononuclear cell surface markers and an indirect immunoperoxidase staining technique. During rejection the composition of the infiltrate was heterogeneous, with T cells (T11), monocytes (OKM1) and HLA-DR expressing mononuclear cells the most frequent sub-populations. B cells (B1) and activated T cells, identified by OKT10, were always in the minority. The T cells infiltrate usually included the helper/inducer (T4) and cytotoxic (T8) subclasses, which suggests that both may contribute to the mediation of rejection. Whether T4 or T8 predominated in the graft did not relate to the ratio of T4:T8 in blood, the HLA A, B or DR incompatibilities of the graft, or the immunosuppressive used. The frequency of T11, T4, T8, HLA-DR positive cells and monocytes, but not B cells, increased with the severity of rejection and was similar in biopsies from patients immunosuppressed with Cyclosporine (CSA) to those given a combination of azathioprine, prednisone and antilymphocyte globulin (AZA). Severe rejection episodes which did not respond to treatment with corticosteroids were more often characterized by a predominance of T8 over T4 cells and T cells infiltrating the glomeruli. In grafts with evidence of cellular rejection, renal tubular cells were shown to have a marked increase in their expression of HLA-DR antigens compared to normal kidneys or grafts with minimal rejection. The expression of HLA-DR antigens on graft tubular cells correlated with the presence of T cells in the interstitium and the severity of rejection, except for moderate rejection in CSA treated biopsies, in which HLA-DR expression was lower than in AZA biopsies. These immunopathological studies have demonstrated that a variety of potential effector cells exist within the graft, and several features have been identified which may assist in assessing the prognosis of the rejection episode.     

Effect of anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibody on rat small bowel allograft survival and circulating leukocyte populations

Anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) prolong graft survival in several animal models. This study assessed the effect of an anti-LFA-1 mAb (WT.1) on small bowel allograft rejection, circulating leukocyte subsets and in vivo target cell antigen blockade. Heterotopic small bowel transplantation was performed between PVG donor and DA recipient rats. Transplanted animals received 1 mg/kg per day WT.1 on days -1, 0 (day of transplantation) and 1. Three doses of WT.1 were also administered to a group of untransplanted animals to monitor circulating leukocyte populations and in vivo binding. WT.1 prolonged recipient survival from 7 to 14 days. Peripheral leukocyte counts increased more than twofold, primarily due to marked increases in both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Approximately 85% of WT.1 binding sites on lymphocytes and monocytes were blocked/modulated after the course of therapy. WT.1 has marked effects on circulating leukocytes and target cell binding capacities and can affect the survival of rat small bowel transplant recipients.     

Treatment of acute renal allograft rejection with monoclonal anti-T12 antibody

Nineteen patients with acute rejection of a renal allograft were treated with the monoclonal antibody anti-T12, directed against a determinant present on all post-thymic T cells. Seven patients had a good response, four had an equivocal response, and eight failed to respond. Histologic studies demonstrated that the good responders had primarily cellular rejection. The nonresponders included 4 patients with moderate-to-severe humoral rejection, one patient with an inadequate dose of antibody, one patient who withdrew before completing the study, and one patient with late end-stage rejection. All eleven patients with good or equivocal responses have functioning kidneys in a follow-up of 1-15 months (mean 7 months). Only one patient has had a subsequent acute rejection episode, which responded to a steroid pulse. No significant complications of anti-T12 therapy occurred.     

大鼠小肠移植早期应用趋化因子受体拮抗剂抑制移植物急性排斥反应

目的探讨趋化因子受体拮抗剂(MetRANTES)在小肠移植早期应用对排斥反应的免疫抑制作用及其与他克莫司的协同效应。方法SD大鼠为供者,Wistar大鼠为受者,建立异基因节段性异位小肠移植模型。移植后将大鼠分为4组,每组24只。第1组为对照组,移植前后不作任何处理;第2组为MetRANTES组,小肠移植后(0～7d)腹腔注射MetRANTES200μg/d;第3组为小剂量他克莫司(FK506)组,小肠移植后(0～7d)腹腔注射FK5060.5mg·kg-1·d-1;第4组为MetRANTES联合FK506组,2种药物的应用方法与第2、3组相同。观察移植大鼠的一般状况和存活时间以及免疫细胞浸润情况,并于移植术后3、5、7d分别取各组大鼠移植肠标本(n=6)进行组织病理学检查,采用免疫荧光染色和激光扫描共聚焦显微镜技术对移植肠RANTES和CD4 、CD8 、CD25 T淋巴细胞的表达进行连续定量测定。结果第1～4组大鼠平均存活时间分别为(7.37±1.19)d、(22.32±8.60)d、(23.64±6.58)d和(30.55±4.18)d,第2、3、4组大鼠与第1组相比,存活时间明显延长(P<0.01);第4组大鼠存活时间更长,与第2、3组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。第1组全部死于急性排斥反应及感染,组织病理学检查显示移植后第3、5、7d分别符合轻、中、重度排斥反应。第2、3、4组病理学检查无明显排斥反应征象。第1组大鼠的移植肠RANTES表达在术后各时段均显著高于其他3组(P<0.01),其动态变化与急性排斥反应的进程呈正相关;第2组和第4组大鼠移植肠RANTES、CD4 、CD8 和CD25 T细胞的表达均明显低于第1组(P<0.01)。结论MetRANTES能明显抑制小肠移植急性排斥反应,有效保护移植肠功能,显著延长移植物的存活时间,并可增强小剂量他克莫司的免疫抑制作用。     

Specific depletion of preformed IgM natural antibodies by administration of anti-mu monoclonal antibody suppresses hyperacute rejection of pig to baboon renal xenografts

BACKGROUND: The elimination of circulating anti-porcine preformed antibodies is crucial for avoiding hyperacute vascular rejection (HAVR) of primarily vascularized xenograft in discordant pig to baboon model. Previously described methods used for eliminating natural antibodies, however, constantly removed both anti-porcine IgM and IgG antibodies, as well as often complement proteins. To study specifically the role of preformed anti-porcine IgM antibodies, a specific anti-IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been designed and evaluated in vivo. METHODS: Iterative injections of anti-IgM mAb (LO-BM2) at high dose (20 mg/kg) depleted to undetectable level the circulating IgM and therefore anti-porcine IgM antibodies but did not change the concentration of anti-pig IgG antibodies. The serum concentration of IgM and IgG antibodies was assessed by ELISA and the level of anti-pig natural IgM and IgG antibodies by flow cytometry (FC). Anti-rat sensitization was assessed by specific ELISA as well as the serum concentration of LO-BM2. RESULTS: Iterative injections of LO-BM2 allowed to specifically eliminate the anti-porcine IgM antibodies to undetectable levels at ELISA. Despite a normal serum level of anti-porcine IgG and complement proteins, HAVR was avoided. Without immunosuppression, the specific elimination of preformed anti-porcine IgM prolonged the survival of a renal xenograft in baboon up to 6 days, whereas without IgM antibody elimination, the renal xenografts were hyperacutely rejected within hours. The lost of activity of LO-BM2 after 10 days was concomitant to an IgM and IgG antibody rebound, which caused an acute vascular rejection of the xenograft. CONCLUSION: Specific elimination of natural anti-porcine IgM antibodies allows to avoid HAVR of a pig to baboon renal xenograft, whereas anti-porcine IgG antibodies and complement proteins were present in the serum. This result confirms previous in vitro reports and demonstrates for the first time in vivo that preformed IgM antibodies alone are responsible for HAVR, while preformed anti-porcine IgG antibodies are unable alone to cause HAVR. Anti-IgM therapy appears as an important tool to transiently but completely eliminates xeno-IgM antibodies in vivo.     

Changes in the composition of serum bile acid as a predictor of small bowel allograft rejection in rats

Composition of bile acid was studied as a noninvasive rejection marker after small bowel transplantation (SBT). Orthotopic SBT were performed in rats, and they were divided into four groups: group 1, sham-operated rats; group 2, recipients with isografts; group 3, recipients with allografts treated with FK506; and group 4, recipients with untreated allografts. On postoperative days (POD) 5 and 7, the graft histology, intraluminal bacterial overgrowth, individual bile acids concentration of the recipient serum and bile were examined. On POD 5, early histological findings of acute rejection were observed in group 4, and the ratio of secondary bile acids of this group were significantly higher than the other groups. The bile acid changes were enhanced by bacterial overgrowth on POD 7. The ratio of secondary bile acids changed in relation to acute rejection after SBT, suggesting that they can be useful for early diagnosis of acute SBT allograft rejection.     

Safe administration of a humanized murine antibody after anaphylaxis to a chimeric murine antibody

BACKGROUND: Basiliximab and daclizumab are potent and relatively safe immunosuppressive induction agents used in transplantation. These chimeric or humanized monoclonal antibodies, respectively, act by binding to the alpha chain of interleukin-2 receptors on activated T lymphocytes. Herein, the authors describe successful transplant induction therapy with a humanized murine antibody in a patient with a history of anaphylaxis to a chimeric murine antibody. METHODS: The authors report a 42-year-old woman who received a dose of basiliximab without adverse reaction before an anticipated renal transplant that was canceled. Two weeks later, she received a second dose of basiliximab. Within 10 min of receiving the second dose, she developed chest tightness, shortness of breath, tongue swelling, diffuse pruritic rash, and skin flushing. RESULTS: The authors hypothesized that her anaphylaxis was mediated by immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies to basiliximab. Consistent with this hypothesis, intradermal administration of a 1:100 dilution of basiliximab induced a 10 x 10-mm flare. The authors sought to find an alternative immunosuppressive agent for this patient. The patient elicited prick and intradermal skin testing responses to horse and rabbit polyclonal antithymocyte antibody preparations. However, she mounted neither a prick nor an intradermal response to daclizumab. The patient was administered daclizumab without any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The negative skin test and safe administration of daclizumab is surprising because the similarity of these hybrid antibodies would have predicted similar IgE responsiveness and clinical outcome. The authors propose that patients who develop anaphylaxis to basiliximab or other chimeric antibodies may be candidates for treatment with a humanized antibody preparation such as daclizumab in the presence of a negative skin test to the humanized agent.     

Specific suppression of allograft rejection by soluble class I antigen and complexes with monoclonal antibody

In this experiment, we investigated the effect of daily injection or continuous slow infusion of either DA (MHC haplotype, RT1a) serum or soluble DA class 1 MHC antigen or its complexes with monoclonal antibody on rejection of heterotopic heart allograft in the combination of PVG.RT1a (RT1a) donor into PVG (RT1c) recipient. DA serum delayed significantly both the early and late rejection of PVG.RT1a heart grafts in PVG recipients. Removal of soluble class I MHC antigen from DA serum by affinity chromatography on a monoclonal anti-class I antibody column completely abolished the immunosuppressive effect. Continuous infusion of purified soluble class I antigen from DA rat liver, even from day 4 after heart grafting, induced a significant prolongation of graft survival. This effectiveness was donor-specific and amplified by the mixture of monoclonal anti-class 1 (RT1a) antibody with DA serum--this being induced only by using continuous infusion but not by daily injection. The results indicate that soluble class I antigen can act as a specific immunosuppressive agent in allograft rejection and that its effect is amplified by monoclonal anti-class 1 antibody.     

环孢素A与他克莫司对大鼠原位小肠移植慢性排斥反应的影响

目的 建立稳定可靠的长期存活大鼠原位小肠移植慢性排斥反应(CR)模型,比较环孢素A(CsA)与他克莫司(Tac)诱导的CR的特点.方法 供、受鼠分别为雄性近交系F344、Lewis大鼠,移植小肠肠系膜上动脉、门静脉分别与受鼠肾下腹主动脉及下腔静脉端侧吻合,切除受鼠原小肠,移植小肠两端分别与受鼠肠行端端吻合.研究Ⅰ为受鼠手术当天至术后第13天肌肉注射CsA,5mg·kg-1 ·d-1.研究Ⅱ为手术当天至术后第13天及术后第20、27天肌肉注射Tac,低、中、高剂量组的剂量分别为0.3、0.5、1.0 mg·kg-1 ·d-1.观察大鼠存活率、体重及组织形态学改变.结果 研究Ⅰ中,受鼠术后60、90 d的病理表现均为CR,但肠黏膜钝化不明显.研究Ⅱ中,低、中剂量组受鼠最长存活126 d,而高剂量组受鼠存活超过180 d,体重增长曲线接近同系移植组.CsA与Tac制备的受鼠移植小肠病理学表现均为中、重度CR,但Tac制备的模型更接近临床小肠移植的CR病理学特征.结论 以F344大鼠为供鼠、Lewis大鼠为受鼠,分别以CsA、Tac为免疫抑制剂均可建立稳定的大鼠原位小肠移植CR模型,Tac制备的受鼠存活时间更长,病理学特征更为典型.