Combined use of tacrolimus and leflunomide in prevention of acute rejection and T cell proliferation in cardiac allografts of rats / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the role of combined use of tacrolimus and leflunomide (Lef) in prevention of acute allograft rejection in rats.Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group, tacrolimus treated group, Lef treated group and tacrolimus +Lef treated group. The drugs were given by gavage from day 0 to day 9 after transplantation. Graft survival was observed. Some cases of allografts were examined histologically 7 days after transplantation. At the same time, the levels of CD4 + , CD8 + T cell subsets in peripheral blood were examined by using flow cytometry and the hepatic function as well as renal function of recipents were also tested. Results The graft survival time in control group, tacrolimus treated group, Lef treated group and tacrolimus+Lef treated group was 7.14 ? 1.07 days, 11.14 ? 1.73 days, 11.29 ? 1.80 days and 14.00 ? 2.49 days, respectively. The histological study revealed the rejection in the tacrolimus+Lef treated group was slighter than the tacrolimus treated group and Lef treated group. The levels of CD4 + T cell subsets in the peripheral blood of the tacrolimus+Lef treated group were much lower than those of the tacrolimus treated group and Lef treated group 7 days after transplantation. The levels of CD8 + T cell subsets and the hepatic function and renal function had no significant difference.Conclusion Combined use of tacrolimus and Lef had better effect in prevention of acute rejection in allograft rats than monotherapy without increasing side effects.