Kidney transplantation following treatment with cyclophosphamide and bone marrow grafting.

Canine cyclophosphamide (CY) chimeras permanently accept kidney and skin grafts as do radiation chimeras. Three of five dogs with reversion of chimerism rejected their kidney grafts within 11-16 days, while two of them retained their kidney grafts permanently. These results suggest that the reversion of chimerism in CY chimeras may be due to different mechanisms, either immunologic rejection or a nonimmunologic substitution of the grafted marrow by the host's own hemopoiesis.     

Primary cytomegalovirus infection following cardiac transplantation in a murine model

A murine cytomegalovirus (CMV) model was utilized to determine the source of primary CMV infection in cardiac transplantation. Hearts were taken from actively or latently infected BALB/C mice and then transplanted as primary, heterotopic isografts into CMV-negative BALB/C recipients. The transplantation of hearts from acutely infected donors into nonimmunosuppressed recipients resulted in asymptomatic primary infection as manifested by detectable virus in both donor and recipient hearts, liver, spleen, and salivary glands and by the development of anti-CMV antibody. When hearts from latently infected animals were transplanted into nonimmunosuppressed recipients, a transient primary infection occurred that was manifested by detectable virus in the spleen and salivary glands and the appearance of anti-CMV antibody. When recipient animals were immunosuppressed with cortisone acetate (125 mg/kg/day i.p.) and rabbit antimouse thymocyte globulin (0.2 ml i.p. twice weekly), after transplantation of hearts from acutely and latently infected mice, lethal primary CMV infection developed. High titers of virus were recovered in all organs tested in these animals, including both the donor and recipient hearts. We conclude that the heart is infected during the course of primary murine CMV infection, and that hearts from latently infected animals are a source of serious primary infection in immunosuppressed recipients. This experimental system should be a useful model relevant to human cardiac transplantation.     

Value of percutaneous diagnosis and therapeutic procedures in obstructive uropathy following kidney transplantation

Postrenal obstruction is a severe complication after renal transplant. To evaluate side effects and effectiveness we analyzed 71 ategrade pyeloureterographies (AP) and 30 percutaneous and open nephropyelostomies. AP shows a sensitivity of 93% and proved thereby its superiority to alternative diagnostic procedures. Also percutaneous pyelostomy proved its reliability in therapy of obstructive disease. Comparing side effects to those in normal kidneys we found a higher incidence of bleeding (17%). There was no severe complication with loss of graft. In 6 cases of obstructive disease we could prevent an operation by temporary percutaneous nephrostomy. Long term nephrostomy allows to evaluate the function of the kidney accurately which may not be possible until after 1-2 months.     

Long-term culture and transplantation of murine testicular germ cells

The objectives of this study were to develop an in vitro culture system to optimize germ cell proliferation and to measure the potential of the cultured germ cells to produce mature spermatozoa after transplantation into a recipient. Donor germ cells isolated from ROSA26 male mice were cultured with a STO feeder cell layer in Dulbecco's minimal essential medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), stem cell factor, leukemia inhibitory factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, interleukin-11, L-glutamine, sodium pyruvate, 2-mercaptoethanol, murine oncostatin M, and platelet-derived growth factor. Donor germ cells formed colonies in the primary cultures after 8-21 days. These cultured colonies were maintained for 4 weeks or longer without subculture and proliferated for up to 8 passages over a period of 3 months. These colonies had alkaline phosphatase activity and incorporated 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine. These colonies were positive partially when screened with antibody for germ cell nuclear antigen and c-kit. Germ cells cultured with this supplemented medium showed enhanced colonization vs controls cultured with DMEM and FBS. Cultured germ cells from Rosa26 donors were transplanted into testes and were identified by X-gal staining and histological screening. The cells cultured in the supplemented medium colonized the tubules and initiated spermatogenesis in the recipient mice. This is an improved method for culturing germ cells and may be useful in gene therapy and the production of transgenic animals.     

Differentiation potential of murine neural stem cells in vitro and after transplantation

We examined the differentiation potential of murine neural stem cells (NSCs) grown in vitro and transplanted into intact and irradiated recipients. NSCs were isolated from neonatal Balb/c mice using the neurosphere assay. On in vitro differentiation assays, NSCs produced beta-III tubulin(+) neurons, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP(+)) astrocytes, and O4(+) oligodendrocytes. After neural grafting to histocompatible adult mice, NSCs gave rise to neuronal and glial cells. When cells were transplanted in the form of solid neurospheres, they reached terminal differentiation and spatial arrangements that mimicked the three-dimensional organization of nervous tissue. To create conditions that would allow us to assess the potential for generation of nonneural cells, NSCs were intravenously injected into irradiated mice. Transplantation of NSCs stimulated hematopoiesis because the number of colony-forming units of granulocyte-monocyte lineage (CFU-GM) colonies isolated from the spleen and bone marrow of transplanted mice was greater than that from irradiated, nontransplanted animals. Moreover, transplanted cells tagged with beta-galactosidase were identified in the thymus of animals grafted with labelled NSCs. NSCs harvested from the neurosphere assay produced viable and transplantable cells. In vitro differentiation assays and neural grafting confirmed the multipotency of NSCs and their commitment to generate neuronal and glial cells. Following intravenous injection of NSCs, the transplanted cells colonized hematopoietic and lymphatic organs, facilitating hematopoiesis in irradiated animals.     

Immuno-competent cells in the murine epididymis following infection with Escherichiu coli

Epididymitis was induced by retrograde injection of Escherichia coli into the vas deferens of 28 mice. A group of 28 saline-injected animals served as controls. On Days 1, 3, 7 and 28, groups of seven animals were killed. Bacterial culture was performed. Leucocyte numbers and distribution were determined in epididymides.
In infected mice, E. coli were isolated from all epididymides on Days 1 and 3, but only from five of seven epididymides on Days 7 and 28. One week after infection, the total number of macrophages rose from about 10 to 28%. Significantly increased macrophage percentages were also found in animals killed 28 days after infection. A simultaneous increase in MHC class II positive cells was seen on Day 7. A total of 20% of the cells expressed MHC class II in infected epididymides (normal = 6%). A similar increase was found on Day 28 after infection. Most of the macrophages and MHC class II positive cells were located in the interstitium, fewer in the peritubular layer and nearly none in the epithelium. The main increase in these cells occurred in the interstitium and, to a lesser but significant extent, in the peritubular area.
T-helper and T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes reached peak values on Day 28. The increase in T-lymphocytes and simultaneous appearance of plasma cells follo wed the increase in numbers of macrophages and MHC class II positive cells. They were located mainly in the interstitium. A sequential increase in leucocyte subsets and negative culture results for E. coli were observed on Days 7 and 28 (2/7 on each day). The inflammatory process was restricted to the interstitium.
It is concluded that stimulation of T-lymphocytes and plasma cells by macrophages/MHC class II positive cells acts as an effective immune response to E. coli in the epididymal interstitiurn.     

Kupffer cells participate in rejection following liver transplantation in the rat

Abstract Recognition of foreign antigens involves macrophages which release mediators such as immunoactive interleukins, and in the liver, the resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) are activated following transplantation. Therefore, we evaluated the hypothesis that Kupffer cells participate in the rejection reaction following transplantation. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed between different syngenic rat strains. Livers from Lewis rats were stored in lactated Ringer's solution for 1 h to minimize cold ischemic injury and transplanted into PVG recipients. At 24 h postoperatively, transaminases (AST) were elevated to values around 2000 U/l, total bilirubin was increased to values around 20 μmol/l, and five of six rats died within 3 days. Macroscopic and histological examination showed large areas of necrosis without cellular infiltration, characteristic of rejection. When donor rats were treated with gadolinium chloride (GdCl₃, 10 mg/kg i.v. 24 h before storage of the liver) to inactivate the Kupffer cells, AST levels only rose to around 700 U/l, and the total bilirubin level was in the normal range (<4 μmol/l). Survival was improved significantly by GdCl₃, with five of seven rats surviving more than 1 month ( P < 0.05) and four of seven rats surviving for at least 100 days without immunosuppressive drug therapy. Rejection was not totally prevented, however, since the surviving rats had elevated AST and bilirubin levels, and cellular infiltration in portal areas along with proliferation of bile canaliculi was observed. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that Kupffer cells participate in mechanisms of early rejection following liver transplantation.     

Tumor formation following murine neural precursor cell transplantation in a rat peripheral nerve injury model

Neural stem cells show a remarkable aptitude for integration and appropriate differentiation at sites of cellular injury in central nervous system (CNS) disease models. In contrast, reports of neural stem cell applications in peripheral nerve injury models are sparse. In this study we sought to determine if the C17.2 cell line would respond to cues in the microenvironment of the injured peripheral nerve and enhance neuronal regeneration in rodent sciatic nerve injury models. We transplanted C17.2 into several sciatic nerve injury models in 45 nude rats, including nerve transection, nerve crush, and nerve gap models. Twelve of the animals in this study developed large tumors at the site of neural stem cell transplants. Histologically, the tumors resembled neuroblastomas. The tumors were confirmed to be of transplanted cell origin by positive beta-galactosidase staining. Tumors occurred only in models where the nerve remained intact or where continuity of the nerve was restored. We concluded that C17.2 transplantation into peripheral nerve injury models resulted in a high rate of tumor formation. This study demonstrates that the success of neural precursor transplants in the CNS cannot necessarily be extrapolated to the peripheral nervous system.     

Histological identification of purified and cryopreserved allogeneic hepatocytes following transplantation in a murine model without host immunosuppression

Hepatocyte transplantation is a conceptually attractive alternative to whole organ grafting for some inborn metabolic errors and for fulminant liver failure. However, studies of the immunogenicity of transplanted allogeneic hepatocytes have yielded contradictory results. In these experiments, the effect of purification and cryopreservation of the hepatocytes on the ability of these cells to engraft in the mouse allogeneic recipients without immunosuppression was studied. BALB/cByJ mouse crude (unpurified), modified (purified or cryopreserved), or dead (irradiated) hepatocyte preparations labeled with fluorescein dye CFSE were infused either into the portal vein or into the spleen parenchyma of the recipient CBA mice. A histological examination revealed normal appearance of engrafted modified hepatocytes with no signs of acute rejection up to 21 days posttransplant. Many of the intrasplenically implanted hepatocytes migrated into the hepatic sinusoids. The modified hepatocytes showed intact ultrastructural appearance 7 days after transplantation. The numbers of inoculated crude hepatocytes rapidly declined with signs of dense infiltration of mononuclear cells in the graft indicating destructive response. The fluorescence of dead hepatocytes was undetectable. These results suggest that reduced immunogenicity may be responsible for the longer survival time of inoculated, purified or cryopreserved hepatocytes with no adverse morphological effects. Received: 10 August 1998 Received after revision: 2 March 1999 Accepted: 26 March 1999     

通过小鼠皮肤移植后心脏移植模型观察记忆性T淋巴细胞的变化和作用

目的 建立小鼠皮肤移植后心脏移植模型,观察记忆性T淋巴细胞的变化和作用,及其与皮肤移植后同种反应性记忆性T淋巴细胞过继转移模型的差异和机理.方法 应用显微外科技术及血管套管法,建立小鼠皮肤移植后心脏移植模型(实验组),并以心脏移植前输注或未输注记忆性T淋巴细胞的2个组作为对照(移植对照组和输注对照组),两对照组均未进行皮肤移植.心脏移植后每天触摸各组供心的搏动情况,观察各组移植心的存活情况及组织病理学改变,并对排斥反应进行分级;采用流式细胞仪检测各组受鼠体内CD3+ CD44high CD62L-记忆性T淋巴细胞表型的分布,应用体外混合淋巴细胞反应体系综合评价各组记忆性T淋巴细胞体外增殖程度.结果 皮肤移植前受鼠体内CD4+记忆性T淋巴细胞的比例为2.7％,移植后升至72.0％ (P＜0.05).移植对照组、输注对照组及实验组移植心脏的平均存活时间分别为7.33、4.83和3.5d,排斥反应评分分别为1B～2级、3A级和4级,体内CD3+ CD44highT淋巴细胞的比例分别为29％、55％和75％,CD3+ CD62L-T淋巴细胞群落中CD44荧光强度分别为215、274和380,以及MLR强度(吸光度值)分别为0.29、0.45和1.0,与两对照组相比,实验组移植心存活时间明显缩短、记忆性T淋巴细胞比例明显升高、MLR强度均明显增强及排斥反应程度更严重(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).结论 同种小鼠皮肤移植后心脏移植模型是一个更为贴近临床实际的动物模型,其同种抗原反应能力明显强于过继输注同种记忆性T淋巴细胞的小鼠心脏移植模型,有利于免疫记忆的相关研究.     

小鼠造血干细胞移植后移植物抗宿主病与内皮细胞损伤的关系

目的 探讨异基因造血干细胞移植后移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)与内皮细胞损伤的关系.方法 以C57BL/6小鼠为供者、Balb/c小鼠为受者,分4组进行异基因造血干细胞移植,每组受者15只:对照组(仅输入磷酸盐缓冲液)、单纯骨髓移植组(仅输入骨髓单个核细胞)、GVHD组(输入骨髓单个核细胞和脾细胞)、GVHD减轻组(在GVHD组基础上加用环孢素A).分别于移植后不同时间观察受者的表现,检测外周血中内皮细胞及组织病理学变化.结果 术后第5天,各组受者均无典型的GVHD表现及组织病理学改变;术后第9天,GVHD组受者出现明显的GVHD的表现及病理学改变,并于15 d内全部死亡.术后第5天,单纯移植组、GVHD组和GVHD减轻组受者的外周血中内皮细胞数分别为(11.51±7.40)、(7.34±1.26)和(7.36±0.16)个/μl,三组间差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05);术后第9天,内皮细胞数分别为(10.49±5.61)、(153.64±35.35)及(47.82±4.69)个/μl,三组间差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).术后第5天,单纯移植组、GVHD组、GVHD减轻组受者GVHD靶器官组织病理学评分分别为3.33±0.58、4.33±1.53及4.0±1.73,三组间差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05);术后第9天,评分分别为3.33±1.15、10.0及4.33±0.58,三组间差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05);术后第14天,评分分别为2.33±1.25、10.33±2.58和3.33±1.15,三组间差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 GVHD的发生再次引起内皮的损伤,同时损伤的内皮加重了GVHD.

Abstract：

Objective To study the relationship between graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and endothelium injury following hematopoietic stem cells transplantation in mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice as donors and Balb/c mice as recipients were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, bone marrow transplantation group, GVHD group, GVHD mitigation group. The clinical manifestations,circulating endothelial cells and tissue pathological changes were observed at different time points after transplantation. Results No manifestations of GVHD were found in each group at the day 5, while those were found in GVHD group at the day 9 and all died within 15 days. The counts of endothelial cells in peripheral blood showed no significant difference at the day 5 between GVHD group (7. 34 ±1.26 cells/μl) and bone marrow transplantation group (11.51 ± 7. 40 cells/μl) or GVHD mitigation group (7. 36 ± 0. 16 cells/μl), while among three groups there was statistically significant difference at the day 9 (GVHD group: 153. 64 ± 35. 35 cells/μl vs bone marrow transplantation group: 10. 49 ±5. 61 cells/μl and GVHD mitigation group: 47. 82 ± 4. 69 cells/μl). The scores of pathological aGVHD had no significant difference at the day 5 between GVHD group (4. 33± 1. 53) and bone marrow transplantation group (3. 33 ± 0. 58) or GVHD mitigation group (4. 00 ± 1.73), while among three groups there was statistically significant difference at the day 9 (GVHD group: 10. 0 vs bone marrow transplantation group: 3. 33 ± 1.15 or GVHD mitigation group: 4. 33 ± 0. 58) and at the day 14 (GVHD group: 10. 33 ± 2. 58 vs bone marrow transplantation group: 2. 33 ± 1.25 or GVHD mitigation group 3. 33 ± 1.15). Conclusion Occurrence of GVHD causes endothelial damage again and injured endothelium worsens the GVHD.     

帕金森病样大鼠牛嗜铬细胞脑内移植后的行为和组织学观察

目的 观察牛肾上腺嗜铬细胞异种移植于帕金森病（ＰＤ）样大鼠脑内的效果及移植物的存活情况。方法 将用酶消化和机械分离及纯化的牛肾上腺嗜铬细胞移植于ＰＤ样大鼠的脑纹状体内（损毁同侧）,以阿朴吗啡诱发的异常旋转行为为观察指标,比较细胞移植组、生理盐水组和非移植组间及移植前、后旋转行为的变化。结果 细胞移植组的ＰＤ样大鼠移植后的旋转行为较移植前明显改善（Ｐ〈０．０１）,而生理盐水组和非移植组的改善不明显;     

睾丸移植物中支持细胞相关基因和蛋白表达的研究

目的 研究新生小鼠睾丸组织异体异位移植后,几种在睾丸支持细胞中起重要作用的基因和蛋白表达情况,为异体异位睾丸组织移植模型用于科研及临床的可行性提供进一步实验数据.方法 将162只1～2d昆明小鼠的睾丸移植到54只7～12周去势雄性免疫缺陷小鼠背部;在移植后9个时间段(3d和1～8周)取出移植物;选取4种在睾丸支持细胞中表达或高表达的基因abp、amh、vim和clu,采用聚合酶链反应,对发育不同阶段移植物中4种基因的表达情况进行分析,并与正常小鼠相应各年龄段睾丸中的基因表达相比较;同时采用免疫组织化学方法对支持细胞的GATA-4蛋白在移植物组织中的表达量及分布情况进行分析.结果 在9个时间段取出的移植物中,所测定4种基因的表达趋势与在正常小鼠睾丸中所见基本相同;免疫组化结果显示,4周和8周移植物支持细胞中GATA-4蛋白呈高表达,与在正常小鼠睾丸组织支持细胞中的表达基本一致.结论 新生小鼠睾丸组织异体异位移植到免疫缺陷小鼠体内后,支持细胞的发育在组织形态学以及几种受试基因的表达趋势和蛋白的表达情况与在正常小鼠中的表现基本相同.     

Interleukin-1beta regulates nitric oxide production and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in sertoli cells

Several cytokines have been involved in the regulation of Sertoli cell function. Further investigations are required to elucidate the role of interleukin-1beta (IL1beta) in Sertoli cell physiology. Twenty-day-old rat Sertoli cell cultures were used to investigate a possible role of IL1beta in the regulation of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gammaGTP) and to elucidate the signaling pathway utilized by this cytokine. GammaGTP is a membrane-bound enzyme that has been involved in amino acid transport across the plasma membrane and in protection from oxidative stress through its importance in the regulation of glutathione levels. Previous studies suggested that IL1beta stimulates NO biosynthesis in other cell types. Therefore, we investigated whether IL1beta modified the level of nitrite, a stable metabolite of NO, in Sertoli cells. Dose-response curves to IL1beta for gammaGTP activity and nitrite production were observed. The increments observed in gammaGTP activity and nitrite production were partially and completely blocked by simultaneous treatment with the NO synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine. Treatment of Sertoli cell cultures with the NO donors sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine resulted in an increase in gammaGTP activity. The presence of neural, endothelial, and inducible isoforms of NO synthase (NOS) was investigated by a immunohistochemical technique using specific antibodies. The 2 constitutive isoforms were present under basal conditions, and the inducible protein appeared in IL1beta-treated cultures. Finally, translocation of NF-kappaB p65 subunit to the nucleus in IL1beta-treated cultures was observed. These findings suggest that the action of IL1beta on Sertoli cell gammaGTP activity is partially mediated via activation of NF-kappaB and increments in iNOS and cellular production of NO.     

Growth and rejection patterns of murine lymphoma cells antigenically altered following drug treatment in vivo.

Murine leukemia cells transformed by in vivo treatment with 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)imidazole-4-carboxamide (DTIC) are rejected by histocompatible recipients following inocula of 10(7) cells i.p. Progressive tumor growth or tumor growth and regression was monitored measuring the extent of DNA synthesis in the peritoneal cavity of mice using the [125I]5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine uptake method. In addition, the results were confirmed by cell count and mortality data. Comparable growth rate was found initially in both DTIC and parental lines in histocompatible hosts. Later, mice challenged with parental lines died, whereas hosts inoculated with DTIC-treated sublines rejected the tumor. On the other hand, lethal growth occurred in mice inoculated with DTIC-treated sublines when immunodepressed by cyclophosphamide given before tumor challenge, or by methotrexate given after challenge of a methotrexate-resistant DTIC-treated subline. The similarity between the growth rate of the parental and DTIC-treated lines in histocompatible hosts does not support the hypothesis of impaired "oncogenic potential" of such DTIC-treated lines. Furthermore, the growth and rejection pattern of a parental line in H-2-incompatible hosts was similar to that observed for DTIC-treated lines in histocompatible hosts, suggesting that comparable immune mechanisms were involved in both cases.