Immune effect of thymus induction on rat liver transplantation / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: During xenogenic liver transplantation, major histocompatibility antigen can induce immunological rejection, and immunosuppressant can cause adverse effect on organism. Recently, treatment prior to transplantation induces immune tolerance, which is perspective for organ transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between thymus induction and immunological rejection during liver transplantation. METHODS: A total of 40 male SD rats of clean grade were selected as donors. Moreover, 30 male Wistar rats of clean grade and 10 male SD rats of clean grade were selected as recipients. The donor rats were divided into allogeneic gene transplantation, allotransplantation, cyclosporine, and thymus induction groups, with 10 rats in each group. The modified Kamada and improved two-cuff technique was used to establish a stable rat orthotopic liver transplantation model. The cyclosporine group was given cyclosporine (50 mg/kg) for 5 successive days. Thymus induction group was injected with major histocompatibility antigens (50 pL) for 5 successive days. Other groups were not given any interventions. Survival time of rats was recorded in each group. Pathological observation and mixed lymphocyte cultured were performed at days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Survival time was longer in the thymus induced group compared with other groups (> 60 days), damaged level was mild, local immunological rejection was reduced, and lymphocytes were decreased. The effect after liver transplantation was similar to allogeneic gene transplantation but superior to cyclosporine intervention (P < 0.05). This suggested that thymus induction relieved immunological rejection following liver transplantation.