<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The aim of the current study was to investigate the
role of
interleukin (IL)-2,
interferon (IFN)-gamma,
IL-4 and
IL-10 in a concordant
hamster-to-
rat cardiac
xenotransplantation model.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>A
hamster-to-
rat cardiac transplantation was performed using SD
rats as recipients of Golden
Syrian hamster hearts. A total of 60 SD
rats were divided into four groups and treated as follows
control group (n = 15);
splenectomy group (n = 15); CsA group (n = 15); CsA +
splenectomy group (n = 15). Levels of
IL-2, IFN-gamma,
IL-4 and
IL-10 were measured by
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (
ELISA). Sera were harvested at different
time points in each group day 1, and 3 as well as the day the
xenograft stopped beating in the
control group and CsA group; day 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 in the
splenectomy group and CsA +
splenectomy group. The expression of
P-selectin and
intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (
ICAM-1) was examined by immunohistochemical
analysis of the
xenograft after cardiac
xenotransplantation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>
Serum levels of
IL-2 and IFN-gamma were upregulated in untreated (day 3) and
splenectomy-treated
animals (day 7) compared to CsA +
splenectomy treated
animals (day 7).
IL-10 was upregulated in long-term
survival recipients following
splenectomy + CsA. Neither
P-selectin nor
ICAM-1 expression was detected in long-term
survival xenografts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>
Serum IL-2 and IFN-gamma were elevated following acute vascular rejection.
Serum IL-10 was correlated to
immunosuppression and protective effects in long-term
survival rats following concordant cardiac
xenotransplantation.</p>