CTLA4Ig基因对大鼠胰岛移植后排斥反应的治疗作用

目的　研究CTLA4Ig基因在糖尿病大鼠体内表达及其产物对胰岛移植物存活的作用。方法　利用Lipofectin载体包裹CTLA4IgcDNA质粒后转染鼠胰岛和肌肉细胞 ,检测移植后CT LA4Ig表达和T淋巴细胞转化率。结果　胰岛移植术后 7dT淋巴细胞转化试验 ,实验组 (A组 )和对照组 (B组 )每分钟脉冲数 (cpm)分别为175 .7± 98.2 ,2 5 4.4± 116 .3 ,两组比较差异显著 (P <0 .0 5 )。A组胰岛移植第 7d ,2只大鼠血清CTLA4Ig呈阳性 (阳性率 2 0 % )。A、B两组胰岛移植后血糖维持正常时间分别为 (14.8± 12 .3)d和 (3 .6± 5 .1)d ,两组比较差异显著 (P <0 .0 5 )。A、B两组大鼠平均存活时间分别为 (2 4.0± 10 .8)d和 (10 .8± 4.8)d ,两组比较 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　脂质体包裹的CTLA4IgcDNA转染肌细胞和胰岛细胞 ,可以在受体大鼠胰岛细胞或肌肉组织中表达 ,其表达产物可使胰岛移植物和受体鼠存活时间明显延长 ,抑制细胞免疫活性 ,发挥其治疗排斥反应的作用     

FK506和RS-61443对大鼠异体肢体移植的联合免疫抑制作用

目的　通过大鼠异体肢体移植模型 ,旨在分析 FK5 0 6和 RS- 6 14 4 3对大鼠异体肢体移植中急性排斥反应的免疫抑制作用。　方法　选择雄性 Wistar和 SD大鼠为供、受体 ,以 FK5 0 6和 RS- 6 14 4 3为免疫抑制剂 ,对照组为术后不用药组 ,实验组根据用药剂量和药物不同分为 6组 ,各组用药时间均为 5周 (每日 1次共 2周 ,然后每周 2次共 3周 ) ,进行了 10 1例异体肢体移植动物实验。观察大鼠一般情况、移植肢体排斥反应及存活时间。　结果　对照组肢体平均存活时间为 (7.0 0± 0 .78)天 ;实验组 1～ 6组移植肢体平均存活时间分别为 (17.0 8± 4 .5 0、2 3.2 0± 5 .0 5、11.19±2 .2 8、16 .33± 1.83、13.33± 3.2 2和 5 8.76± 6 .81)天。　结论　 FK5 0 6和 RS- 6 14 4 3能抑制大鼠同种异体肢体移植术后急性移植排斥反应的发生 ,并能延长移植肢体的存活时间。     

小剂量环孢素A联用细胞毒T淋巴细胞A4-Ig治疗器官移植排斥反应

目的　研究小剂量环孢素A(CsA)联用细胞毒T淋巴细胞A4 Ig(CTLA4 Ig)治疗器官移植排斥反应的效果。　方法　采用Ono′s方法建立大鼠心脏移植排斥反应动物模型 ,将实验动物分为 4组。A组 :对照组 ,未给予任何治疗 ;B组 :腹腔内注射CsA ,10mg·kg-1·d-1,连续 7d ;C组 :术后第 2天 1次性注射CTLA4 Ig 10 0 μg ;D组 :术后 1～ 7d连续腹腔内注射CsA ,2mg .kg-1.d-1,术后第 2天加用CTLA4 Ig 5 0 μg。观察移植心脏存活天数及术后IL 2含量和组织学变化。　 结果　A、B、C、D 4组大鼠移植心脏存活时间分别为 ( 7 2± 0 7)、( 19 4± 2 1)、( 3 1 6± 1 8)和 ( 2 4 6± 2 1)d ,与对照组相比 ,各治疗组大鼠心脏存活时间明显延长 ,差异有显著性意义 (q =3 2 7 83 ,P <0 0 5 ) ,D组与C组相比差异无显著性意义 (q =1 86,P >0 0 5 ) ;各治疗组术后IL 2含量明显减低 ,与对照组相比差异有非常显著性意义 (q=9 82 ,P <0 0 1) ;A、B、C和D组排斥反应分级分别为Ⅳ、Ⅲ、Ⅰ和Ⅰ级。　结论　CTLA4 Ig抗排斥反应能力比CsA强 ,小剂量CsA联合使用CTLA4 Ig能增强治疗排斥反应疗效 ,两者具有正协同作用。     

PD-L1.Ig与1,25(OH)2D3联合应用对异基因大鼠胰腺移植后急性排斥反应的影响

目的 探讨PD-L1.Ig联合1,25(OH)2D3对大鼠胰腺移植急性排斥反应的免疫调控作用以及对大鼠移植胰腺存活时间的影响.方法 以F344大鼠为供体,Lewis大鼠为受体,建立4组原位胰腺移植模型.每组12例,共48例.A组:对照组、B组:PD-L1.Ig组、C组:1,25(OH)2D3组、D组:PD-L1.Ig+1,25(OH)2D3组;观察术后各组血糖变化,移植物存活以及组织病理学改变;流式细胞检测受体血、脾以及移植胰CD4+T细胞、CD8+T细胞、CD4+CD25+T细胞表达水平;酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测移植物局部白细胞介素(IL)-2、-4、-10、-12表达水平;于术后第7天分别杀死各组受体和供体鼠各2只,取受体脾细胞与供体作混合淋巴细胞反应(MLR).结果 与A比较,PD-L1.Ig组并未显著延长移植胰腺存活时间(P＞0.05),C、D组对改善血糖水平和延长移植胰腺存活时间作用明显(P＜0.01),其中,D组移植胰腺存活时间最长(23.9±0.8)d;与A组比较,B组无明显改善,C组排斥反应较A组明显减弱,而D组几乎未发生排斥反应;CD3+CD8+T细胞计数D、C、B与A组比较均有减少,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).CD4+T细胞D、C、B与A组的差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞A、B、C、D组逐渐升高,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01),且以D组较为明显(C组比A组P＜0.01);D组明显抑制移植物局部Th1型细胞因子IL-2、IL-12的产生,显著提高Th2型细胞因子IL-4、10的水平;与对照组比较,各治疗组受体T淋巴细胞在MLR中表现对供体淋巴细胞特异性低反应性,能有效抑制T细胞对同种异体抗原的反应.结论 共刺激阻断剂PD-L1.Ig联合1,25(OH)2D3可有效抑制细胞免疫应答,干预急性排斥反应,显著延长大鼠移植胰腺存活时间.     

局部转染CTLA-4Ig抑制大鼠异体复合组织移植急性排斥反应的研究

目的：观察腺病毒介导融合基因细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关抗原-4（cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4,CTLA-4Ig）局部转染大鼠同种异体移植的复合组织对急性排斥反应的抑制作用。方法：以近交系Brown Norway大鼠为供体,Lewis大鼠为受体,采用腹部游离皮瓣作为异体复合组织移植（composite tissue allotransplantation,CTA）模型。将受者分为3组,A组（空白对照组）：异体皮瓣离体保存时不感染腺病毒,只灌注PBS溶液;B组（阴性对照组）：异体皮瓣离体保存时灌注携带增强型绿色荧光蛋白的重组腺病毒（Ad—EGFP）;C组（基因治疗组）：异体皮瓣离体保存时灌注AdCTLA-4Ig。术后观察各组移植皮瓣的排斥情况及存活天数,进行组织病理学检查,并观察CTLA-4Ig在移植组织中的表达情况及对急性排斥反应的抑制作用。结果：①A组、B组皮瓣移植物平均生存时间分别为（7．8±1．5）天和（7．1±1．6）天,C组移植皮瓣平均存活时间为（10．4±2．3）天,C组存活期长于A组和B组,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;②移植皮瓣病理学检查：术后第7天,A组与B组移植皮瓣均发生严重急性排斥反应,而C组排斥反应较A组和B组轻微,但C组术后第11天也表现出严重急性排斥反应;③移植前后血清白细胞介素2（interleukin-2,IL-2）水平：各组移植术后早期发生急性排斥反应时,IL-2均有明显升高,但实验组血清IL-2水平在第3天、第7天时均明显低于两对照组（P〈0．01）。结论：建立了一种新的异体复合组织移植局部基因转染模型,皮瓣灌注AdCTLA-4Ig能获得融合基因在移植复合组织中的表达,局部产生的CTLA-4Ig能抑制急性排斥反应的发生,延长移植物存活时间。     

睾丸支持细胞与共刺激通路阻断剂对异体移植肾细胞的保护作用

目的　研究表达Fas配体 (FasL)的睾丸支持细胞与共刺激通路阻断剂细胞毒性T细胞相关抗原 4免疫球蛋白 (CTLA 4Ig)对异体移植肾细胞的保护作用 ,以提高移植肾的免疫耐受性。方法　酶消化法制备睾丸支持细胞及肾细胞。取 10 6个细胞混合移植于大鼠肾包膜下 ,实验大鼠分为 3组 :对照组 (10只 )、混合细胞移植组 (混合移植组 ,16只 )、联合CTLA 4Ig组 (CTLA组 ,10只 )。分别于术后 1、7、14、2 0d检测血清白细胞介素 2 (IL 2 )水平变化。术后 2 0d取出移植物 ,以亲和素 生物素 过氧化物酶复合物技术观察肾细胞存活状况 ;MD 2 0图像分析系统测定混合移植物灰度值 ;末端脱氧核糖核酸转移酶介导的X dUTP缺口末端标记 (TUNEL)法观察移植物中凋亡的细胞。　结果对照组无移植物存活 ;混合移植组 14只移植物存活 ,灰度值为 0 36 2± 0 0 17;CTLA组 10只移植物均存活 ,灰度值为 0 4 4 5± 0 0 2 1;混合移植组与CTLA组间灰度值差异有显著意义。术后CTLA组血清IL 2水平较混合移植组低 ,差异有显著意义 ;混合移植物中可见凋亡的淋巴细胞。　结论　异体肾细胞移植中 ,睾丸支持细胞与CTLA 4Ig对移植肾细胞具有协同保护作用。     

大鼠肝肾联合移植供体DC细胞迁移诱导的免疫保护作用

目的探讨供体DC细胞迁移对肝肾联合移植免疫保护的诱导作用及机制。方法60只大鼠肝肾联合移植免疫排斥模型(选择DA大鼠为供体,Lewis大鼠为受体),随机分为3组：A组：白细胞介素(IL)-10处理的DC细胞干预组；B组：未经IL-10处理的DC细胞干预组；C组：空白对照组。利用所建立的大鼠肝肾联合移植模型结合成熟前期DC细胞进行研究,首先进行供体大鼠DC细胞的预先分离、培养和IL-10处理,然后输入肝肾联合移植后的受体大鼠体内,分析其对肝、肾移植物的免疫保护以及其对移植物和受体存活时间的影响。结果A组肝肾移植的急性排斥反应受到明显的抑制,平均存活(20．0±2．6)d；B组和C组均表现为典型的重度急性排斥反应,存活时间分别为(6．7±0．8)和(7．5±0．5)d；A组与B、C两组受体的累积生存率差异有统计学意义(P＜0．05)。结论IL-10预处理的DC细胞可以对大鼠肝肾联合移植中的移植物起到免疫保护作用；供体的成熟前期DC细胞迁移到受体组织内,能够抑制肝肾联合移植急性排斥反应,并延长肝、肾移植物和受体大鼠存活时间。     

小剂量环孢素A对大鼠同种异体肢体移植的免疫抑制作用

目的通过大鼠同种异体肢体移植模型,分析小剂量环孢素A(cyvlosporinA ,CsA)对大鼠同种异体肢体移植急性排斥反应的免疫抑制作用。方法采用雄性Wistar和SD大鼠为供、受体,以CsA为免疫抑制剂。对照组14只,将Wistar大鼠肢体移植至SD大鼠,术后不用药。实验组术后按用药剂量的不同分为2组( 2mg/kg组17只大鼠和CsA 6mg/kg组18只大鼠)。2组术后用药时间均为4周(每日1次共2周,然后每周2次共2周)。术后观察大鼠一般情况、移植肢体排斥反应及存活时间;用免疫荧光染色流式细胞仪检测各组手术前后T细胞亚群的变化。结果对照组移植肢体平均存活时间为[( 7.0 0±0 .78)d , x±s ,下同] ;CsA 2mg/kg组为( 3 7.18±0 .5 1)d ,CsA 6mg/kg组为( 3 3 .2 0±1.0 5 )d。术后第3天,对照组的CD4/CD8比值显著增高,移植肢体开始出现肿胀、皮肤红斑等表现。实验组的CD4/CD8较术前无明显变化。结论小剂量CsA能抑制大鼠同种异体肢体移植术后急性排斥反应的发生,并能延长移植肢体的存活时间。     

CTLA4Ig和西罗莫司短期联合使用延长异种胰岛移植物的存活

目的 观察细胞毒性T淋巴细胞相关抗原4融合蛋白(CTLA4Ig)与西罗莫司(SRL)联用阻断共刺激通路对异种胰岛移植物存活的影响.方法 取C57BL/6小鼠,腹腔注射链佐星,制成糖尿病模型.采用随机单位组设计分组法将糖尿病小鼠分为7组,各组均于小鼠左肾包膜下移植SD大鼠胰岛300胰岛当量.CTLA4Ig组分别于移植当天及移植后第2、4、6天腹腔注射CTLA4Ig 0.5 mg/d;SRL组分别于移植当天及移植后第1、2天给予SRL灌胃,0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1,其后隔天用药1次,共用2周;MRI组分别于移植当天及移植后第2、4天腹腔注射仓鼠抗小鼠CD154单克隆抗体(MR1)0.5 mg/d;CTLA4Ig和SRL联用组(SRL联用组)、CTLA4Ig和MRl联用组(MR1联用组)以及CTLA4Ig、MR1和SRL联用组(三药联用组)各药物的剂量与用法同上述各组;对照组仅行胰岛移植,不予以药物.观察至移植后200 d,通过监测受者血糖水平来判断排斥反应的发生情况.记录各组移植物的存活(即无排斥反应)时间.发生排斥反应者,或未发生排斥反应、移植物存活时间＞200 d者,取移植胰岛,行HE染色及免疫荧光染色,进行组织学观察.结果 对照组移植物存活时间中位数为17 d,该组最终均发生排斥反应.SRL组、MRl组和CTLA4Ig组移植物存活时间中位数分别为34 d、98 d和77 d.均明显长于对照组(P＜0.05),三组中分别有90%(9/10)、62.5%(5/8)和83.3%(5/6)的小鼠发生排斥反应.SRL联用组移植物存活时间中位数为130 d,明显长于上述4组(P＜0.01),有50%(3/6)的小鼠发生排斥反应.MR1联用组以及三药联用组移植物存活时间中位数均＞200 d,分别有42.9%(3/7)和25%(2/8)的小鼠发生排斥反应.组织学检查结果显示,对照组发生排斥反应时,其移植胰岛破坏严重,可见大量CD4+和CD8+淋巴细胞及巨噬细胞浸润,并可见IgG、IgM和补体C3沉积.其它组发生排斥反应者的组织学改变与对照组相似.SRL联用组存活200 d的小鼠,其移植胰岛组织中未见或仅有少量炎症细胞浸润,胰岛素和胰高血糖素染色阳性,未见IgG、IgM和补体C3沉积.结论 短期联合使用CTLA4Ig和SRL能显著延长小鼠体内大鼠来源的胰岛的存活时间.     

抑制巨噬细胞对异种胰岛移植物的作用

目的　观察普伐他汀 (pravastatin)对异种胰岛移植物存活的影响。方法　将猪→小鼠胰岛移植模型分成A组 (对照组 )、B组 (CsA组 )、C组 (普伐他汀组 )、D组 (CsA +普伐他汀组 )。观察指标 :移植物存活时间、病理检查、免疫组化染色、血清NO含量及移植物IFN γmRNA的表达。结果　A、B、C和D组移植物平均存活时间分别为 (6 .2±0 .82 )d、(9.2± 1 .92 )d、(7.2± 1 .30 )d及 (1 1 .2± 1 .76)d,D组存活时间明显长于其它 3组 (P<0 .0 5) ;D组移植物浸润细胞较其它 3组少。术后第 4天 ,血清NO水平A组为 (1 0 5 .8± 1 9.3)mmol/L ,明显高于B组的 (88.2± 2 1 .4)mmol/L(P<0 .0 5)、C组的 (70 .7± 1 7.8)mmol/L(P<0 .0 1 )及D组的 (56 .3± 1 6 .4)mmol/L(P<0 .0 1 ) ,出现移植排斥时 ,C、D组的血清NO水平分别为 (83 .7± 1 0 .6)mmol/L及 (71 .3± 1 3 .8)mmol/L ,仍较A组低 (P<0 .0 5) ,B组为 (1 0 4 .7± 1 6 .3)mmol/L ,与A组比较差异无显著性意义 (P>0 .0 5)。术后第 4天血清IFN γmRNA表达 ,D组为 2 3 .5± 4 .6 ,较A组的2 8.8± 4 .8低 (P<0 .0 5) ,而B、C组与A组间差异无显著性意义 (P>0 .0 5)。结论　普伐他汀能抑制巨噬细胞活性 ,延长异种胰岛移植物存活 ,尤其与CsA联用效果更好     

环孢素对共刺激阻断剂延长移植肾存活效应的影响

目的:探讨环孢素(CsA)对共刺激阻断剂CTLA4Ig延长移植肾存活效应的影响。方法:肾移植大鼠分为对照组(第1组)、CTLA4Ig组(第2组)、CsA CTLA4Ig组(第3组)、CTLA4Ig IL-2组(第4组)和CsA CTLA4Ig IL-2组(第5组),观察术后血肌酐(Scr)、移植肾病理改变、移植肾存活时间。结果:与第1组、第4组相比,第2组、第3组、第5组移植肾存活时间显著延长(P<0.01),其中,第3组移植肾存活时间最长(66.1±10.6)d;术后15天,第2组Scr显著低于第3组、第5组(P<0.05);术后30天,第3组、第5组Scr显著低于第2组(P<0.01);术后30天,第3组、第5组移植肾淋巴细胞浸润明显少于第2组。结论:CsA可增强CTLA4Ig延长移植肾存活的效应,对外源性IL-2逆转CTLA4Ig的效应具有抵抗作用。     

Prevention of Acute Lung Allograft Rejection in Rat by CTLA4Ig

CTLA4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig), which binds with a high affinity to B7-1 and B7-2, interrupts T-cell activation by inhibiting costimulatory signal. CTLA4Ig has been used in hopes of achieving antigen-specific tolerance induction in several solid organ transplants. In lung allograft rejection, however, its use has been controversial in terms of its effect on prevention of rejection. In the present study, the effect of murine CTLA4Ig on rat-lung allograft rejection was investigated. Rat left-lung transplantation was performed in an RT1 incompatible donor (Brown Norway; BN)-recipient (F344) combination. All allografts (n = 12) without any treatment were rejected within 7 days after transplantation. A single injection of murine form CTLA41g at a dose of 100 microg intraperitoneally (ip) or intravenously (iv) on day 1 post-transplantation achieved long-term graft survival (>90days) in 2/5 (40%) and 3/8 (38%), respectively. Moreover, 6/7 (86%) allografts in rats that received iv injection of 500 microg CTLA4Ig survived more than 90days. Allograft survival in the CTLA4Ig 500 microg iv recipient group was significantly longer than that in the no-treatment control or control immunoglobulin group (p <0.01). Four out of seven recipients bearing functional allografts for more than 90 days with the CTLA4Ig treatment accepted donor-specific skin grafts, whereas all third-party skin grafts (n=3) were rejected. Prevention of rat-lung allograft rejection could be achieved by intravenous administration of CTLA4Ig, resulting in long-term allograft survival with acceptance of donor-specific skin grafts.     

Development of donor-specific immunoregulatory T-cells after local CTLA4Ig gene transfer to pancreatic allograft

BACKGROUND: CTLA4Ig gene transfer directly to graft tissue might have the potential to avoid the need for systemic immunosuppression. In our previous studies of bio-breeding (BB) rats, local adenovirus-mediated CTLA4Ig gene transfer protected the pancreas from autoimmune and alloimmune responses. This study investigated the potency of local CD28/B7 costimulatory blockade for induction of donor-specific tolerance and further examined the existing mechanisms. METHODS: Brown Norway (BN; RT1)-pancreaticoduodenal grafts transfected with Ad.CTLA4Ig via intraarterial ex vivo perfusion were transplanted into streptozotocin-induced diabetic Lewis (LEW; RT1) rats. RESULTS: Ad.CTLA4Ig transduced grafts combined with a short course of FK506 resulted in indefinitely prolonged survival (>156 days vs. 19.5 days with FK506 alone). CTLA4Ig was predominantly expressed in grafts on day 4. The expression was gradually diminished and was only slightly detectable at day >100. The proliferative responses against BN antigen were remarkably enhanced among recipients with rejected grafts, but the T-cells from tolerant recipients (>100 days) showed poor cytotoxic responses. On adoptive transfer assay, the splenic T-cells of tolerant recipients were able to suppress the rejection of BN, but not third-party Wistar Furth (WF; RT1) hearts in irradiated (480 cGy) LEW recipients. The percentage of CD4CD25 splenic T-cells was significantly increased in tolerant recipients (13.53 +/- 4.06% vs. 6.06 +/- 0.56% in naive rats). CONCLUSION: CTLA4Ig gene transfer to the pancreaticoduodenal allograft combined with a short course of FK506 induces donor-specific tolerance. The mechanism of maintaining tolerance could be explained by development of splenic T suppressor cells.     

Combined gene therapy with adenovirus vectors containing CTLA4Ig and CD40Ig prolongs survival of composite tissue allografts in rat model

BACKGROUND: The blockade of costimulatory signal pathway by anti-CD40 ligand antibody or cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig) prolongs allograft survival in various vascularized organ transplantations. Because of the short half life of these agents, repeated administration of proteins is required to achieve significant graft survival. Furthermore, there is limited information regarding the effect of cosimulatory blockade on the survival of composite tissue allografts. Therefore, we examined the effect of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of CTLA4Ig or CD40Ig gene or both in composite tissue allotransplantation. METHODS: The hind limbs removed from male ACI rats (RT1 ) were transplanted into female Lewis rats (RT1 ) heterotopically. The recombinant adenovirus carrying CTLA4Ig (AxCTLA4Ig) or CD40Ig (AxCD40Ig) was intravenously administered after limb transplantation. RESULTS: Limb allograft survival was significantly prolonged by either AxCTLA4Ig or AxCD40Ig treatment at 1 x 10 plaque forming unit (mean survival time [MST] of 39.4+/-6.0 and 13.0+/-2.9, respectively) compared with the adenovirus vector containing beta-galactosidase-treated group (MST of 4.8+/-0.8). Combination of AxCTLA4Ig and AxCD40Ig led to significant prolongation of graft survival (MST of 49.2+/-6.6). Serum levels of CD40Ig were higher in rats treated with combination therapy than those treated with AxCD40Ig alone, whereas the serum levels of CTLA4Ig in rats treated with AxCTLA4Ig alone and AxCTLA4Ig and AxCD40Ig combined were very similar. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that an adenovirus-mediated gene therapy of CTLA4Ig or CD40Ig has a therapeutic potential for preventing rejection in composite tissue transplantation. Furthermore, a combination therapy of AxCTLA4Ig and AxCD40Ig was even more effective in preventing acute rejection and prolonging the survival of allografted limbs without apparent complication.     

Feasibility of immunosuppression in composite tissue allografts by systemic administration of CTLA4Ig

BACKGROUND: Although recent experimental studies have demonstrated CTLA4Ig to be a potent immunosuppressant in vascularized solid organ allografts, little attention has been given to the effect of this soluble recombinant fusion protein on immunosuppression in composite tissue allografts (CTAs). Using a rat hind limb allograft model, we examined the efficacy of CTLA4Ig against the allograft rejection of composite tissue. METHODS: The hind limbs of ACI rats (RT1a) were heterotopically transplanted to Lewis rats (RT11). Controls received no immunotherapy. Experimental recipients were treated with a single i.p. injection of either human immunoglobulin (Ig)G (0.5 mg/body) or CTLA4Ig (0.5 mg/body) according to different time schedules. Graft survival time and histopathological changes for each experimental group were evaluated and statistically compared. RESULTS: Graft survival times were prolonged significantly in rats treated with CTLA4Ig on day 1 and day 2 after transplantation, compared with survival times of controls. In particular, the most significant prolongation was found in rats treated on day 2. At 7 days after transplantation, moderate-to-severe histological rejection occurred in all tissues in control rats. On the other hand, in rats treated with CTLA4Ig, all tissues showed significantly better preservation. Among these treated rats, the rats treated on day 2 showed excellent histopathological conditions in each tissue. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the feasibility of using CTLA4Ig for preventing acute rejection in CTA. On the basis of the current results, the administration of CTLA4Ig for CTA is more effective at 24-48 hr after transplantation, after the initial immune response has been allowed to begin.     

Induction of regulatory cells and control of cellular but not vascular rejection by costimulation blockade in hamster-to-rat heart xenotransplantation

BACKGROUND: In heart allograft in the rat, a sustained costimulation blockade with CTLA4Ig prevents alloreactive T-cell activation and promotes a long-term graft survival through the action of tolerogeneic dendritic cells. It is unclear whether similar mechanisms might occur after xenotransplantation. To test that hypothesis, we have analyzed the action of CTLA4Ig in a model of CD4(+)T cell-mediated xenograft rejection. METHODS: Hamster hearts were transplanted into LEW.1A rats receiving an accommodation-inducing treatment consisting of a short course administration of LF15-0195 and a daily administration of cyclosporine A (CSA). To achieve long-term delivery of CTLA4Ig, an intravenous administration of an adenovirus vector coding for mouse CTLA4Ig (Ad-CTLA4Ig) was added to the accommodation induction protocol. On day 40 post-transplantation, rejection was induced by CSA withdrawal. In other xenograft recipients, CD28/B7 costimulation was inhibited at that time only by injections of CTLA4Ig or anti-CD28 antibodies. Graft survival, immunohistology, as well as development of antibodies and regulatory cells were examined. RESULTS: Xenografts survived 6 days after CSA withdrawal in controls and were rejected, as previously described, through the action of CD4(+) xenoreactive T cells. Interfering with CD28/B7 costimulation inhibited this xenoreactive T cell response and delayed rejection to day 10. In recipients that had received Ad-CTLA4Ig, survival was prolonged to day 19 and this was accompanied by the appearance of regulatory cells exhibiting non-donor-specific suppressive activity dependent on IL-2, NO, and IDO. These regulatory cells were different from those previously identified after Ad-CTLA4Ig administration in heart allograft in the rat. In these recipients, rejection occurred as a consequence of an evoked anti-donor IgM response and complement activation and not of a cellular rejection as complement inhibition with cobra venom factor further prolonged xenograft survival. CONCLUSION: CD28/B7 blockade delays CD4(+) T cell-mediated rejection after CSA withdrawal in accommodated recipients of hamster heart xenografts. In addition, a sustained expression of CTLA4Ig has the potential of inducing cellular regulatory mechanisms. However, such treatment does not prevent the development of xenoreactive IgM antibodies that participate in vascular rejection processes in a complement-dependent manner.     

Estradiol enhances murine cardiac allograft rejection under cyclosporin and can be antagonized by the antiestrogen tamoxifen

BACKGROUND: An increased incidence of acute rejection episodes in female heart transplant recipients has been reported in experimental and clinical studies. However, the exact mechanisms of gender-specific differences in alloreactivity are not completely understood. METHODS: C57BL/10 (H-2b) hearts were transplanted into C3H/He (H-2 k) recipients. Four gender combinations were used to test the influence of donor and recipient sex on graft survival. Recipients were treated with CsA, 17beta-estradiol and/or tamoxifen. Additionally mice were ovariectomized prior to transplantation. RESULTS: Treated with CsA, allograft survival in female recipients was 9.16+/-0.41 days as compared with 15.16+/-1.72 days in males. Estradiol administration and oophorectomy had a significant impact on allograft survival in male and female mice under CsA treatment. Tamoxifen combined with CsA significantly prolonged graft survival in female recipients (13.16+/-1.16 days) as compared with CsA treatment alone (9.16+/-0.41 days). CONCLUSION: Female mice show earlier rejection episodes and a shorter graft survival than males. For the first time, tamoxifen has been shown to have a beneficial effect on heart allograft survival in female recipients.