FasL嵌合蛋白修饰的供者脾脏细胞输注诱导移植免疫耐受的动物研究

目的 探讨FasL嵌合蛋白修饰的供者脾脏细胞输注诱导移植免疫耐受的可行性.方法 采用ProtEx~(TM)源蛋白修饰技术,将FasL嵌合蛋白修饰供者WF大鼠的脾脏细胞,在围手术期分次输注给受者ACI大鼠.施行大鼠异位心脏移植术,按注射细胞的不同处理将实验动物随机分为3组:(1)SA-FasL修饰的供者脾脏细胞组(SA-FasL组,n=23);(2)链霉亲和素蛋白(SA)修饰的供者脾脏细胞对照组(n=20);(3)未修饰的供者脾脏细胞对照组(n=8).围手术期未作任何细胞治疗为空白对照组(n=10).将耐受大鼠脾脏细胞输注给未处理ACI大鼠再行心脏移植.进行混合淋巴细胞反应;将第三方F344大鼠心脏移植给耐受大鼠,观察排斥反应.结果 SA-FasL组移植心脏长期存活率为70%,显著高于其他组(P<0.05).耐受大鼠的脾脏细胞输注能够过继转移免疫耐受;混合淋巴细胞反应与第三方移植后的排斥反应表明形成了供者特异性免疫耐受.结论 FasL嵌合蛋白修饰的供者脾脏细胞输注能够诱导供者特异的免疫耐受,这一简便高效的方法具有潜在的临床应用价值.     

负向免疫调节树突状细胞对心脏移植大鼠免疫状态的影响

目的 探讨经体外光化学法(PUVA)处理的供者脾淋巴细胞与受者树突状细胞(DC)共培养后,对移植受者体液免疫、细胞免疫及移植物排斥反应的影响.方法 以DA大鼠为供者,LEW大鼠为受者,建立大鼠腹部异位心脏移植模型.分离供者脾淋巴细胞(SP),制备经PUVA处理的供者脾淋巴细胞(PUVA-SP).在体外分别将供者PUVA-SP和SP与受者骨髓来源的未成熟DC共培养,得到PUVA-SP-DC及SP-DC,流式细胞仪检测上述DC表型.根据受者心脏移植术前1周静脉输注成分的不同,将受者随机分为3组:(1)对照组(n=7):单纯输注磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS);(2)SP-DC组(n=8):输注Sp-DC 5×106个;(3)PUVA-SP-DC组(n=8):输注PUVA-SP-DC 5×106个.每日观察各组移植心的存活状况.移植后第6天,检测受者血清中抗供者特异性IgG水平;通过混合淋巴细胞反应(MLR)检测受者脾脏T淋巴细胞对供者抗原刺激的增殖反应;比较各组受者脾脏体积的大小.结果 供者脾淋巴细胞经PUVA处理后细胞凋亡率为81.93%.正常LEW大鼠DC共刺激分子CD80和CD86阳性率分别为(3.5±0.27)%和(13.0±0.58)%,受者DC与供者SP混合培养后,其CD80和CD86的表达水平为(16.6±0.72)%和(36.5±0.87)%,后者明显高于前者(P<0.01);受者DC与供者PUVA-SP混合培养后,其CD86和CD80的表达率分别为(3.9±0.12)%和(13.4±0.59)%,与正常LEW大鼠DC相当(P>0.05).PUVA-SP-DC组的受者抗供者特异性IgG水平明显低于SP-DC组及对照组(P<0.01).PUVA-SP-DC组受者T淋巴细胞对供者抗原的刺激反应指数为1.66±0.29,明显低于SP-DC及对照组(7.28±0.38、4.19±0.16,P<0.01);而其对无关供者抗原的刺激反应指数为4.37±0.11,与SP-DC及对照组相当(4.51±0.40、4.36±0.14,P>0.05).PUVA-SP-DC组的移植心存活时间比其他两组明显延长(P<0.01),而且其脾脏体积最小.结论 PUVA-SP-DC能够特异性的下调移植受者对供者抗原的细胞免疫及体液免疫反应,从而明显延长移植物存活时间.     

小鼠自体肝脏星状细胞联合同种异体胰岛细胞移植延长移植物存活时间的研究

目的 研究小鼠自体肝脏星状细胞联合同种异体胰岛细胞移植的新方法对胰岛移植物存活时间的作用.方法 选择雄性BALB/c小鼠为胰岛移植模型的供者,雄性C57BL/6糖尿病小鼠为受者.随机将受者分为A、B两组.A组:仅采用供者的胰岛细胞移植;B组:采用受者的肝脏星状细胞(HSCs)与供者胰岛细胞混合后共同移植.术后定期测定受者尾静脉血的血糖含量.结果 B组受者胰岛移植物的存活时间明显延长,血糖含量维持正常的中位时间为66 d(30～180 d),而A组血糖含量维持正常的中位时间为11 d(9～15 d),两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.001).结论 受者肝脏星状细胞能延长共同移植的同种异体胰岛移植物存活时间.     

输注转染FasL基因的供者树突状细胞减轻小鼠心脏移植排斥反应

目的 探讨转染FasL基因的供者树突状细胞(DC)对小鼠心脏移植排斥反应的影响.方法 分离并培养C57BL/6小鼠骨髓DC,然后采用脂质体法以自行构建的pTracer-FasL真核表达质粒转染DC.以C57BL/6小鼠为供者,Balb/c小鼠为受者,将其分为转染组(n=12)、未转染组(n=12)及移植对照组(n=12).转染组小鼠心脏移植前7 d经阴茎背静脉注射1×106个转染FasL基因的供者DC;未转染组小鼠心脏移植前7 d经阴茎背静脉注射1×106个未转染的供者DC;移植对照组仅行心脏移植,不接受供者DC输注.供心均移植于受者腹腔内.各组中,6只小鼠用于观察移植心脏存活时间,另6只于术后7 d处死,取移植心脏,进行组织学观察及移植心脏排斥反应病理分级.结果 转染组、未转染组和移植对照组小鼠移植心脏存活时间的中位数分别为20 d、8.5 d和9 d,转染组移植心脏的存活时间明显长于未转染组和移植对照组(P＜0.01).转染组中,2只排斥反应的病理分级为0级,4只为1级;未转染组中,2只为2级,4只为3级;移植对照组中,1只为2级,5只为3级.转染组排斥反应的病理分级明显低于移植对照组(P＜0.01).结论 受者于心脏移植前输注转染FasL基因的供者DC,可有效延长移植心脏的存活时间,并减轻排斥反应的程度.     

门静脉输注供者脾细胞诱导的供者特异性免疫低反应性

目的 探讨经门静脉输注供者脾细胞能否诱导皮肤移植小鼠产生供者特异性的免疫低反应性及其可能机制.方法 取Balb/c小鼠,随机分为空白对照组(经小鼠门静脉输注RPMI 1640培养液)、受者脾细胞组(经小鼠门静脉输注Balb/c小鼠脾细胞)、供者脾细胞组(经小鼠门静脉输注C57BL/6小鼠脾细胞)、空白移植对照组(经小鼠门静脉输注RPMI 1640培养液,7 d后移植C57BL/6小鼠的皮肤)、实验对照组(经小鼠门静脉输注Balb/c小鼠脾细胞,7 d后移植C57BL/6小鼠的皮肤)、实验组(经小鼠门静脉输注C57BL/6小鼠脾细胞,7 d后移植C57BL/6小鼠的皮肤)以及第三方移植组(经小鼠门静脉输注C57BL/6小鼠脾细胞,7 d后移植C3H小鼠的皮肤).记录空白移植对照组、实验对照组、实验组和第三方移植组移植皮肤的存活时间,并观察移植皮肤的病理学变化;脾细胞输注后7 d,分别获取空白对照组、受者脾细胞组和供者脾细胞组小鼠的外周血、脾脏和肝脏,用流式细胞仪测定样本中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+调节性T淋巴细胞(CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞)的比例.结果 实验组移植皮肤的存活时间为(19.8±4.6)d,明显长于空白移植对照组、实验对照组和第三方移植组,但仍未达到长期存活.皮肤移植后7 d,空白移植对照组和实验对照组的移植皮肤呈现重度急性排斥反应的病理学改变,而实验组移植皮肤呈现中度急性排斥反应的病理学改变.供者脾细胞组外周血、肝脏和脾脏中CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞比例明显高于空白对照组和受者脾细胞组.结论 门静脉输注供者脾细胞可特异性地延长供者皮肤移植物的存活时间,减轻移植物的排斥反应,该效应可能与受者体内的CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg细胞增加有关.     

钴原卟啉诱导血红素氧化酶-1表达上调对异种移植胰岛的保护作用

目的 研究不同浓度钴原卟啉(CoPP)与其诱导胰岛细胞血红素氧化酶-1(HO-1)表达的效应关系,探讨HO-1表达上调对异种移植胰岛的保护作用.方法 将分离和纯化的供者胰岛随机分为5组(A、B、C、D和E组),分别置于含有不同摩尔浓度CoPP的培养液中诱导,5组CoPP的浓度依次为0、5、25、50和75 mmol/L.检测各组胰岛细胞中HO-1mRNA和HO-1蛋白表达情况,并测定体外胰岛素释放水平,筛选出能诱导HO-1表达上调幅度最高的CoPP合适浓度.再将受者分为研究组和对照组(每组8只),对照组移植未经CoPP诱导的供者胰岛细胞;研究组移植经合适浓度CoPP诱导的供者胰岛细胞,术后每天监测受者血糖和排斥反应情况.结果 D组HO-1mRNA、蛋白表达上调幅度以及胰岛素分泌量均高于其他4组,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05),诱导胰岛细胞HO-1上调幅度最高的CoPP浓度为50 mmol/L.研究组受者移植D组供者胰岛后,维持正常血糖的时间为(14.63±1.19)d,对照组为(9.88±2.17)d,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).结论 在异种胰岛移植中,经50 mmol/L的CoPP体外诱导供者胰岛HO-1表达上调幅度最高;HO-1的表达上调可以促进移植胰岛的功能恢复,抑制排斥反应,延长移植胰岛的存活时间.     

重组腺相关病毒载体介导CTLA4Ig转染延长同种大鼠心脏移植存活时间

目的　研究重组腺相关病毒载体介导 CTLA4Ig(rAAV CTLA4Ig)全身转染对大鼠同种心脏移植的影响。方法　以BN大鼠为供者,Lewis大鼠为受者,建立心脏移植模型。实验分为两组。对照组:供、受者不给予任何处理;转染组:受者于心脏移植前30 d,通过尾静脉全身注射 1×109斑点形成单位(PFU)的 rAAV CTLA4Ig。观察移植心存活时间;ELISA法检测血清 CTLA4Ig、干扰素 γ(IFN γ)和白细胞介素 4(IL 4)水平;免疫组织化学法(SABC法)检测移植心组织中 CD4 和CD8 T细胞的浸润。对移植心存活时间明显延长的受者,用其脾细胞与供者脾细胞进行混合淋巴细胞培养,观察受者对供者的免疫反应状态。结果　转染组移植心存活时间较对照组明显延长(P<0.05);转染组血清CTLA4Ig蛋白一直维持在26.67~35.47 mg/L,移植后转染组血清 IFN γ水平下调,血清 IL 4水平上调(P<0.05);对照组出现典型的急性排斥反应表现,转染组心肌组织基本正常,间质内无炎性细胞浸润或血管外周及心肌间质内有局灶性炎性细胞浸润,未见坏死;对照组移植心组织中浸润的CD4 和CD8 T细胞数量明显高于转染组(P<0.01);转染组受者对供者的脾细胞增殖反应明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论　重组腺相关病毒载体可以介导 CTLA4Ig基因的持续表达,通过全身途径转染受者可以明显延长     

CXC趋化因子受体6在小鼠心脏移植排斥反应中的表达及意义

目的 研究CXC趋化因子受体6(CXCR6)在同种异体小鼠心脏移植中的表达及CXC趋化因子配体16(CXCL16)与CXCR6相互作用对移植物存活时间的影响.方法 以野生型Balb/c小鼠(H-2d)为供者(同种移植组),或以野生型C57BL/6小鼠(H-2b)为供者(同系移植组),以野生型C57BL/6小鼠为受者分别行小鼠腹腔异位心脏移植.测定同系和同种移植组小鼠移植心脏CXCR6mRNA的表达,并测定受者脾脏CD8+T淋巴细胞CXCR6的表达.另制作小鼠同种异位心脏移植模型(Balb/c小鼠为供者,C57BL/6小鼠为受者),将其分为实验组和对照组,实验组受者移植当天至发生排斥反应时腹腔注射抗CXCL16抗体,对照组受者同期注射对照抗体.记录两组移植心脏存活时间.进行CD8+T淋巴细胞的细胞毒试验,即用Balb/c小鼠脾细胞免疫C57BL/6小鼠后,获取C57BL/6小鼠脾脏CD8+T淋巴细胞,将Balb/c小鼠脾细胞与C57BL/6小鼠CD8+T淋巴细胞混合培养,分别加入抗CXCL16抗体、小鼠IgG(对照抗体)和抗CD40L抗体.结果 同种移植组移植心脏中CXCR6 mRNA的表达以及脾脏CD8+T淋巴细胞上CXCR6的表达均高于同系移植组和正常对照组.抗CXCL16抗体对CD8+T淋巴细胞的细胞毒活性无影响.与对照组相比较,实验组小鼠移植心脏存活时间并未明显延长.结论 小鼠心脏移植排斥反应中CD8+T淋巴细胞CXCR6的表达上升,阻断CXCL16/CXCR6相互作用并不能延长移植心脏的存活时间.     

CXC趋化因子受体6在小鼠心脏移植排斥反应中的表达及意义

目的 研究CXC趋化因子受体6(CXCR6)在同种异体小鼠心脏移植中的表达及CXC趋化因子配体16(CXCL16)与CXCR6相互作用对移植物存活时间的影响.方法 以野生型Balb/c小鼠(H-2d)为供者(同种移植组),或以野生型C57BL/6小鼠(H-2b)为供者(同系移植组),以野生型C57BL/6小鼠为受者分别行小鼠腹腔异位心脏移植.测定同系和同种移植组小鼠移植心脏CXCR6mRNA的表达,并测定受者脾脏CD8+T淋巴细胞CXCR6的表达.另制作小鼠同种异位心脏移植模型(Balb/c小鼠为供者,C57BL/6小鼠为受者),将其分为实验组和对照组,实验组受者移植当天至发生排斥反应时腹腔注射抗CXCL16抗体,对照组受者同期注射对照抗体.记录两组移植心脏存活时间.进行CD8+T淋巴细胞的细胞毒试验,即用Balb/c小鼠脾细胞免疫C57BL/6小鼠后,获取C57BL/6小鼠脾脏CD8+T淋巴细胞,将Balb/c小鼠脾细胞与C57BL/6小鼠CD8+T淋巴细胞混合培养,分别加入抗CXCL16抗体、小鼠IgG(对照抗体)和抗CD40L抗体.结果 同种移植组移植心脏中CXCR6 mRNA的表达以及脾脏CD8+T淋巴细胞上CXCR6的表达均高于同系移植组和正常对照组.抗CXCL16抗体对CD8+T淋巴细胞的细胞毒活性无影响.与对照组相比较,实验组小鼠移植心脏存活时间并未明显延长.结论 小鼠心脏移植排斥反应中CD8+T淋巴细胞CXCR6的表达上升,阻断CXCL16/CXCR6相互作用并不能延长移植心脏的存活时间.     

诱导供者胰岛细胞高表达血红素加氧酶-1延长大鼠胰岛移植物的存活时间

目的 探讨钴原卟啉(CoPP)诱导大鼠胰岛细胞高表达血红素加氧酚1(HO-1)后,对延长胰岛移植物存活时间的作用.方法 (1)将分离和纯化的供者(BN大鼠)胰岛细胞分为CoPP诱导组和未诱导组.CoPP诱导组供者在分离胰岛细胞前3天和前1天腹腔注射2.5 mg/kg的CoPP,未诱导组不注射CoPP.诱导后,采用免疫荧光法及Western免疫印迹法检测两组胰岛细胞中HO-1的表达情况,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和葡萄糖刺激试验检测胰岛细胞的胰岛素释放水平.(2)Lewis大鼠经四氧嘧啶静脉注射后建立糖尿病模型,取10只成功建立糖尿病模型的大鼠作为胰岛细胞移植的受者,随机平均将受者分为实验组和对照组,分别移植经CoPP诱导和未经诱导的供者胰岛细胞.移植后,观察和比较两组受者胰岛移植物的存活时间和发生排斥反应后胰岛移植物的组织病理学变化.结果 CoPP诱导组胰岛细胞高表达HO-1,而未诱导组不表达HO-1;CoPP诱导组和未诱导组供者胰岛细胞胰岛素分泌量,在低糖刺激下分别为(15.65±0.89)mU/L和(12.28±0.89)mU/L(P>0.05),在高糖刺激下分别为(46.60±1.13)mU/L和(19.01±1.49)mU/L(P<0.05),刺激指数分别为2.98±0.10和1.55±0.01(P<0.05).实验组和对照组胰岛移植物平均存活时间分别为(12.20±5.67)d和(5.60±1.14)d(P<0.05);当受者发牛排斥反应时,对照组胰岛移植物周边可见明显的淋巴细胞、成纤维细胞以及单个核细胞浸润,而实验组细胞浸润的程度明显较轻.结论 CoPP可诱导大鼠胰岛细胞高表达HO-1,其对胰岛细胞有明显保护作用.移植高表达HO-1的胰岛细胞能显著延长胰岛移植物的存活时间.     

Beneficial effects of simultaneous treatment with 15-deoxyspergualin and monoclonal antibodies to CD45RB and CD154 on murine islet transplantation recipients

BACKGROUND: Treatment of transplant recipients with either 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG) or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to T-cell proteins CD45RB and CD154 (a two-signal blockade) has been shown to prolong islet graft survival. Therefore, we investigated the combined effect of DSG, anti-CD45RB, and anti-CD154 in murine islet model. METHODS: Chemically induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice underwent allografting with islets from BALB/c mice or xenografting with rat islets. After transplantation, they were treated with either DSG, the two-signal blockade, or both (the triple treatment). The tolerogenic effects of the posttransplant treatments were measured with an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), immunohistology, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Blood glucose profiles measured after glucose challenges were improved in all islet recipients. Enhancement of xenograft survival in triple-treated groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.08), compared to graft survival in group received only the two-signal blockade. However, 15 days after transplantation, xenografts in the triple-treated group showed a significant decrease in the proportion of CD4, CD8, and CD4CD45RB T-cells, and in the expression of interleukin-10 and interferon-gamma, relative to grafts in the other treatment groups. In addition, reduced infiltration of the xenografts by CD3 T-cells was observed in groups that had received either the two-signal blockade or the triple treatment. With long-term (>248 days) xenografts, only those in the triple-treated group were free of inflammatory infiltrates. These grafts also exhibited larger islet clusters and contained more insulin- and glucagon-positive cells, relative to grafts in the other treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Triple treatment has a beneficial effect in murine islet xenotransplantation.     

Role of CD40-CD154 pathway in the rejection of concordant and discordant xenogeneic islets

BACKGROUND: Costimulatory blockade has been shown to allow long-term survival of xenogeneic islets. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of recipient CD40 and CD154 in the rejection process of concordant and discordant islet xenotransplantation (Tx). METHODS: Diabetic C57BL/6 mice, CD40- or CD154 knockout (KO) mice were transplanted with either concordant rat or discordant human islets. Experimental design: group 1, control (ie, C57BL/6 mice received islet Tx without therapy); group 2, C57BL/6 mice received islet Tx with anti-CD154 monoclonal Ab (mAb) therapy; group 3, CD40 KO mice; and group 4, CD154 KO mice were used as recipients without therapy. Mouse anti-rat mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) were performed using mouse splenocytes obtained from animals transplanted with rat islets in groups 1 to 4. RESULTS: In group 2, short-term anti-CD154 mAb therapy significantly prolonged rat-to-mouse and human-to-mouse xenograft survival, compared to controls. In CD40-KO and CD154-KO recipients, survival of concordant or discordant islets was not prolonged significantly compared to control groups. Mouse anti-donor rat cellular responses were reduced approximately 50% in group 2 but remained unmodified in groups 3 and 4, when compared to group 1. CONCLUSIONS: Improved graft survival and reduced MLR responses against donor cells in vitro among the anti-CD154 mAb-treated mice could be explained by specific targeting of activated T cells with subsequent inactivation by anergy and/or elimination by apoptosis, or complement- or cellular-mediated mechanisms. Rejection of xenografts and strong MLR responses against donor cells in vitro in CD40 or CD154 KO animals is possible through efficient activation of alternate pathways of costimulation.     

Prolonging islet allograft survival using in vivo bioluminescence imaging to guide timing of antilymphocyte serum treatment of rejection

BACKGROUND: Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a sensitive and noninvasive method for tracking the fate of transplanted islets. The aim of this study was to investigate whether early detection of rejection by BLI can aid in the timing of antilymphocyte serum (ALS) treatment for prolonging islet graft survival. METHODS: Transgenic islets (200 per recipient) expressing the firefly luciferase from FVB/NJ strain (H-2q) mice were transplanted under the kidney capsule of streptozotocin-induced diabetic allogeneic Balb/c strain (H-2q) mice. BLI signals and serum glucose levels were measured daily after transplant. Four groups of mice were transplanted: group 1 recipients were untreated controls (n=12), group 2 (n=8) received ALS before transplant, group 3 (n=10) received ALS at a time after transplant when normoglycemic but prompted by a reduction (approximately 30%) in BLI signal intensity for 2 consecutive days, and group 4 (n=5) received ALS after transplant when prompted by blood glucose levels increasing approximately 20% from the normoglycemic baseline (BLI reduction approximately 70%). RESULTS: The incidence of graft loss from rejection in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 92.3%, 88%, 40%, and 100%, respectively. The mean (+/-SE) time to graft loss in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 22.5+/-4.8, 29.2+/-9.9, 53.5+/-17.9, and 22.1+/-2.4 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive imaging modalities of functional islet mass, such as BLI (but not blood glucose levels), can prompt the appropriate timing of ALS treatment of islet allograft rejection and significantly prolong graft survival or protect the grafts from permanent loss.     

"Infectious tolerance" develops after the spontaneous acceptance of Lewis-to-Dark Agouti rat liver transplants

BACKGROUND: After monoclonal antibody or donor-specific transfusion treatment, infectious tolerance to rat or mouse heart or skin transplants can be passed on to naive recipients by adoptive transfer of tolerant lymphocytes. We examined whether similar regulatory cells develop after the spontaneous acceptance of Lewis-to-Dark Agouti (DA) rat liver transplants without immunomodulating agents. METHODS: After Lewis-to-DA rat liver transplantation, 100 x 10(6) splenocytes were harvested and adoptively transferred into a 450 rad-irradiated naive DA rat 24 hours before Lewis heart transplantation. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ or CD8+ T cells was also examined. In some experiments, splenocytes from recipients with long-term accepted Lewis hearts induced by adoptive transfer were serially transferred to multiple generations of recipients before Lewis rat heart transplantation. In vitro mixed lymphocyte culture response and cytotoxic T lymphocyte generation were measured. RESULTS: When splenocytes from a DA rat recipient >60 days after Lewis rat liver acceptance were transferred into irradiated DA rat recipients, all Lewis rat hearts were accepted, whereas third-party Brown-Norway rat hearts were rejected. However, splenocytes from DA rat recipients 30 days after liver transplantation did not prolong Lewis rat heart survival. Adoptive transfer of 40 x 10(6) CD4+, 10 x 10(6) CD4+ or 10 x 10(6) CD8+ cells from a DA rat bearing Lewis rat liver >60 days resulted in acceptance of 88%, 80%, or 57% acceptance of Lewis rat hearts, respectively. Serial second and third adoptive transfer of long-term survivor splenocytes resulted in the acceptance of all Lewis rat hearts. In mixed lymphocyte culture, splenocytes from a naive DA rat and a DA rat accepting a Lewis rat liver transplant for >60 days showed similar proliferative responses to both Lewis and Brown-Norway rat stimulators. An equivalent level of indirect cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity was exhibited by splenocytes from both a naive DA and a DA rat accepting a Lewis rat liver transplant for >60 days. CONCLUSIONS: Regulatory cells developing after the spontaneous acceptance of a Lewis to DA liver transplant can serially adoptively transfer the acceptance of a Lewis rat cardiac graft in spite of the presence of in vitro antidonor reactivity. Both CD4+ and CD8+ populations have this regulatory activity, although the CD4+ population plays the dominant role.     

新生猪Sertoli细胞与大鼠胰岛细胞联合移植延长大鼠移植胰岛的存活时间

目的 探讨新生猪Sertoli细胞(NPSCs)与大鼠胰岛细胞联合移植对延长大鼠同种异体胰岛移植物存活时间的作用及其主要的机制.方法 将糖尿病Wistar大鼠随机分为3组.(1)单纯移植组(n=6):单纯移植1500个胰岛当量(IEQ)的SD大鼠胰岛细胞至糖尿病大鼠的左肾包膜下;(2)分侧移植组(n=4):将1500个IEQ的SD大鼠胰岛细胞移植到糖尿病大鼠的左肾包膜下,同时将1×10~7个NPSCs移植到糖尿病大鼠的右肾包膜下;(3)混合移植组(n=6):将1500个IEQ的SD大鼠胰岛细胞和1×10~7个NPSCs混合移植到糖尿病大鼠的左肾包膜下.移植后每天监测各组的血糖水平,以了解移植物的存活时间;移植后发生排斥反应时获取移植物标本,行HE和免疫组织化学染色,观察移植物中CD3~+T淋巴细胞浸润情况及细胞凋亡调控基因(Bcl-2)和血红素氧合酶1(HO-1)基因的表达水平.结果 单纯移植组、分侧移植组和混合移植组胰岛移植物存活时间分别为(5.7±1.0)d、(5.3±0.5)d和(16.3±1.4)d,混合移植组存活时间较其他两组显著延长(P<0.05).单纯移植组移植区可见大量淋巴细胞浸润,主要为CD3+T淋巴细胞;混合移植组移植区Bcl-2基因呈高表达;各组移植区HO-1基因均有表达,差异不明显.结论 NPSCs与大鼠胰岛细胞联合移植可以延长大鼠同种异体胰岛移植物的存活时间,其机制可能与NPSCs抑制移植物淋巴细胞浸润、促进Bcl-2基因高表达的局部免疫调节作用有关.     

Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of either membrane-bound human FasL or human decoy Fas can prolong pig islet xenograft survival in a rat transplant model

The success of pancreatic islet transplantation is limited because of the severe shortage of allogeneic pancreas donors. Accordingly, pig islets are considered to be an attractive, promising alternative. However, cell-mediated immunity, especially CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated cytotoxicity, remains a formidable barrier to prevent long-term islet survival in xenograft recipients. Therefore, it is particularly important to explore methods to specifically prevent cell-mediated immunity against pig islets. Our group previously demonstrated that the overexpression of either membrane-bound human FasL or human decoy Fas antigen in pig endothelial cells prevented CTL xenocytotoxicity. In this study, we assessed the cytoprotective effects of adenoviral-mediated overexpression of either membrane-bound human FasL or human decoy Fas antigen in pig islets to inhibit CTL xenocytotoxicity. The CTL-mediated killing of pig islets infected with an adenoviral vector carrying either membrane-bound human FasL or human decoy Fas was significantly reduced compares with that of control pig islets transfected with adenoviral vector encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Moreover, we transfected pig islets with these molecules to confirm their cytoprotective effects in in vivo studies. The significant long-term survival of pig islets expressing these molecules was elicited through days 3 to 5 posttransplantation. Thus, these results demonstrated that the remodeling of either death receptor or death ligand on pig islets by adenoviral gene transfer prevented innate cellular immunity against xeno-islet grafts facilitating long-term xenograft survival.     

Immunomodulation by adenoviral-mediated SCD40-Ig gene therapy for mouse allogeneic islet transplantation

BACKGROUND: The success of pancreatic islet transplantation is limited because of immune rejection of allogeneic transplanted tissue and potential adverse side effects of nonspecific immunosuppression. Local expression of an immunosuppressive agent at the site of islet transplant could promote long-term engraftment without associated systemic side effects. METHODS: We have examined the ability of adenoviral vector mediated local production of sCD40-immunoglobulin (Ig), blocking the CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) costimulatory pathway, from genetically modified allogeneic islets to facilitate long-term engraftment in fully allogeneic mouse model. RESULTS: Transplantation of islets infected with an adenoviral vector expressing sCD40-Ig resulted in allograft survival longer than 120 days in five of the nine recipient mice (56%). However, mice that received mock infected (n=5) or control adenoviral vector (Ad.eGFP; n=6) rejected the allograft with a median survival of 15 and 16 days, respectively. Histopathology demonstrated that the grafts of the long-term surviving animals preserved islets with minimal mononuclear cell infiltration. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that local inhibition of the CD40-CD40L pathway by adenoviral gene transfer of sCD40-Ig to the islets prior to transplant significantly prolonged islet allograft acceptance. This approach could be used clinically to facilitate islet transplantation.