Heart Allograft Tolerance Induced By Hind-Limb Transplant in Rats: Findings of a Pilot Study

Authors

  • Quan Liu Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China.
  • Yong Wang Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
  • Atsunori Nakao Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
  • Vijay Gorantla Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
  • Wensheng Zhang Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA and Science and Technology, 59th Medical Wing, JBSA Lackland, TX, 78236, USA.
  • Xin Xiao Zheng Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA and Transplantation Medical Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430071, China.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rdmms/v1/4548E

Keywords:

Organ/tissue transplantation, immunosuppression, skin allografts, hematopoietic chimerism

Abstract

The present study shows that a short-term antilymphocyte serum + Cyclosporine A (ALS + CsA) treatment enabled indefinite vascularized hind-limb allograft survival, which induced secondary donor-strain skin and heart allograft tolerance. Transplanting organs or tissues has emerged as a successful treatment for terminal illnesses. Immunosuppression following transplantation, however, may have very negative side effects. To address this issue, donor-specific transplant tolerance was suggested. Here, we describe a novel technique for raising heart allograft tolerance in rats. First, we induced indefinite vascularized hind-limb allograft survival with a short-term antilymphocyte serum + Cyclosporine A treatment. Peripheral blood chimerism disappeared 6-7 weeks after immunosuppression was withdrawn. Then the recipients accepted secondary donor-strain skin and heart transplantation 200 days following vascularized hind-limb transplantation without any immunosuppression, but rejected third party skin allografts, a status of donor-specific tolerance. The ELISPOT results suggested a mechanism of clone deletion. The findings may open new perspectives for the role of vascularized bone transplant, especially vascularized bone marrow transplant, in the induction and maintenance of organ transplantation tolerance.

Published

2023-02-15

How to Cite

Quan Liu, Yong Wang, Atsunori Nakao, Vijay Gorantla, Wensheng Zhang, & Xin Xiao Zheng. (2023). Heart Allograft Tolerance Induced By Hind-Limb Transplant in Rats: Findings of a Pilot Study. Research Developments in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 1, 164–175. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rdmms/v1/4548E

Issue

Research Developments in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 1

Section

Chapters