ObjectiveTo compare the effect and safety of basiliximab in ABO incompatible pediatric liver transplant recipients.MethodsABO incompatible pediatric liver transplantation operated between January 2019 and August 2020 were studied. The patients were allocated randomized into two groups. Patients in experimental group were treated with basiliximab as immune induction therapy, but basiliximab was not used in patients of control group. Tacrolimus combined methylprednisolone were used after liver transplantation. The clinical characteristics, graft and recipient survival rate, rejection, infectious complications, and kidney functions after liver transplantation were observed. Donor specific antibody (DSA) was tested in 3 months after liver transplantation. The growth and development were assessed too after liver transplant.ResultsFourty-four patients were enrolled in the study, including 19 patients in the experimental group and 25 patients in the control group. The median follow-up time was 16.6 months (3.8–25.4 months), and there were no statistically differences between the two groups in terms of age, sex, weight, pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score, and other basic conditions. There were no significant differences between the two groups in tacrolimus dose, tacrolimus trough concentration, kidney functions, height and weight growth after liver transplantation. There were no statistical differences in lung infection, blood stream infection within 3 months after liver transplantation, cytomegalovirus, EBV infection, graft/patient survival rate after liver transplantation (P>0.05). However, the acute rejection rate was lower and the DSA positive rate in 3 months after liver transplantation was lower in the experimental group (P<0.05).ConclusionsBasiliximab can be safely used in ABO incompatible pediatric liver transplant recipients. Acute rejection rate and DSA positive rate after transplantation can be decreased with the useof basiliximab.
Limitation of donor source for allograft makes the research on xenograft progress. Pig is regarded as one of the ideal donor animals. The major obstacle in xenograft is hyperacute rejection, which is caused by complements after they are activated by xenogeneic antigens combined with natural antibodies. It has been confirmed that alpha-Gal is the major target antigen, whose expression is incharged by alpha-1,3 galactosyltransferase (alpha-GT). The approaches to overcome hyperacute rejection against alpha-Gal included: immunoadsorption of xenogeneic natural antibodies, lysis of antigen by enzyme and genetic manupilation to obtain animal lack of alpha-GT. Besides alpha-Gal, there were other antigens binding to human serum antibody, such as gp65 and gp100, which was expressed on PAEC after induced by TNF, the A-like antigen. But their function was still unknown. It was debatable on the role of MHC in xenograft. Both direct and indirect pathway were involved in cellular response in xenograft.
Objective To establish the rat orthotopic liver transplantation model by characterizing the blood supply of hepatic artery with the Cuff skill and the modified arterial sleeve anastomosis, to explore the possible mechanisms of acute rejection and the express of Fractalkine (Fkn) in the early stage after hepatic allograft operation. Methods SD rats were selected as donors and Wistar rats as receptor for the rejection model of orthotopic liver transplantation. Recipient rats were divided into 2 groups randomly after operationand the drugs were given intraperitoneally once a day in each group. In the experimental group, cyclosporine A (CsA) was delivered with 3 mg/kg. In the control group, only normal saline was given with 3 ml/kg. Condition of survivals were observed. The rejection actvity index (RAI) and the expression of Fkn of liver tissue were observed after 3rd, 5th and 7th days in 5 rats. The rest of rats in each group were fed and given drug or normal saline until they were died and the mean survival time were recorded. Results There were 18 survivals in control group, and 19 in experimental group after liver transplantation. Condition of survivals in experimental group was better than that of control group. The mean survival times of experimental group(19.50±4.51 days) was significantly longer than that of control group(7.60±1.60 days), showing statistically significant difference (P＜0.05). After 3rd, 5th and 7th days of transplantation, RAI of control group were 3.80±0.35,5.90±0.87 and 7.50±1.30,respectively;RAI of experimental group were 3.10±0.21,3.90±0.41 and 4.50±0.52.Therewasstatistically significant difference in RAI between 2 groups on the 7th day after transplantation (Plt;0.01). On the 3rd,5th and 7th days after transplantation, the Fkn of control group was 8.20±0.57,21.30±3.30 and 25.70±4.91, and that of experimental group was 8.30±0.56,10.30±0.67 and 11.70±1.23. There were statistically significant differences in Fkn between 2 groups on the 5th, 7th days after transplantation (Plt;0.01). Conclusion Fkn is a participant inacute rejection after the rat orthotopic liver transplantation and can be chosen as a useful target in the diagnosis of acute rejection. CsA has immunosuppressive property in the condition of acute rejection in the rat orthotopic liver transplantation, which may be result from the decreased the level of Fkn.
Objective To observe the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in human liver after hepatic transplantation, and to study its correlation with the occurrence and progression of acute allograft rejection.Methods Fifteen biopsy specimen of allograft liver after transplantation were collected and divided into three groups according to their pathological changes: control group (no rejection), mild acute rejection group, and moderate/serious acute rejection group. The expressions of HSP70 in grafts were detected by using immunohistochemical method and imaging analysis. Results HSP70 was expressed in all 3 groups, and appeared mainly in hepatocellular cytoplasm. The immunohistochemical imaging analysis of HSP70 showed: integral optical density (IOD) which was 30.99±11.14 in the control group was lower than that in the mild acute rejection group (68.84±21.37) and that in the moderate/serious acute rejection group (71.82±19.99), P＜0.01； and the IOD in the moderate/serious acute rejection group was higher than that in the mild acute rejection group (P＜0.05). Conclusion HSP70 plays a role in cellular protection for allograft liver, and the continuously increasing expression of HSP70 in graft maybe closely relates to the occurrence and progression of acute allograft rejection.
Insufficient supply of organ for allotransplantation made the study on finding new organ resources from animal progress. Pig is regarded as one of the optimal donor animals for human. The major obstacle in this field is hyperacute reaction (HAR), which is triggered after the xenogenic natural antibodies preexisting in recipient blood combine to the antigens on the surface of the endothelium and activate the complement system. alpha-Galactose residues (alpha-Gal) on the endothelial cell have been identified as the major xenoantigens. NJZ Pig has been closely breed since 1938, whose family history is clear. Tissue samples from heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung, small intestine, skin, spleen, thymus and lymph node were obtained and embedded in paraffin. The sections were performed the immunohistochemical staining with the sera from health volunteers (including all the blood types) as the primary antibodies as well as the biotin labeled bandeirae simplicifolia I isolectin B4 (BS I-B4), which has specific affinity to alpha-galactose. All the staining sections were compared with the tissues digested with alpha-galactosidase. There was no difference between the antigens recognized by sera of different blood types. alpha-Gal was still the major xenoantigen on the endothelial cells. There might exist non-alpha-Gal antigens on the distal convoluted tubules and collecting tubules of the kidney. There was no alpha-Gal distributing on the secreting part of pancreas, either the islet cells or the matrix cells, but surely on pancreatic duct and vessels. All the antigenity was destroyed after the enzyme digestion except that the small intestine gland still positive with the BS I-B4. alpha-Gal is the major xenogenic antigen in NJZ Pigs. There exist some unknown antigens on the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney. The blood type of recipient is not the first affair to be considered in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. The specificity of BS I-B4 for the alpha-galactose needs more detail research.
Objective To review the methods of overcoming immunological rejection in xenotransplantation.Methods The strategies of overcoming immunological rejection in xenotransplantation were analyzed and summaried on the basis of an extensive review of the latest l iterature concerned. Results The research development of immunological rejection mechanism and molecular biological technique provided new approaches for overcoming immunological rejection in xenotransplantation. Conclusion It is only a matter of time for xenotransplantation to be appl ied cl inically.
Abstract: Objective To study the antiacute rejection effect of Pachymic acid (PA) in heart transplantation rats, in order to select a new antirejection medicine with low side effect from traditional Chinese medicine. Methods We established the model by transplanting Wistar rats (32,donor) heart allografts into the abdomen of SD rats (32,receptor). The homologous hearttransplanted rats were then randomly divided into 4 groups with 16 rats in each group. Olive oil solution with PA 1 mg/(kg·d), PA 10 mg/(kg·d), Cyclosporine (CsA) 5 mg/(kg·d) and olive oil solution 0.5 ml/(kg·d) were respectively given intragastrically to lowdosage PA group, highdosage PA group, CsA group and the control group till the end of observation. Survival time of heart allografts, heart beating and the histological changes of allografts were examined and serum level of interleukin2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were determined by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Survival time in the highdosage PA group, the lowdosage PA group and the CsA group were 24.90±0.99 d, 15.50±1.60 d and 26.80±0.88 d respectively, which is much better than the control group (6.10±1.10 d, q=22.363, P=0.000; q=44.793, P=0.000; q=49.272,P=0.000). IL-2 serum level in the highdosage PA group, the lowdosage PA group and the CsA group were all lower than that in the control group (q=14.483, P=0.000; q=3.705, P=0.000; =21.418,P=0.000), whileIL-2 serum level in the highdosage group was lower than that in the lowdosage group (q=10.778,P=0.000). Similarly, IFN-γ serum level in the first three groups were all lower than that in the control group (q=16.508,P=0000; q=4.281, P=0.000;q=19.621, P=0.000) and IFNγ serum level in the highdosage group was also lower than that in the lowdosage group (q=14.975, P=0.000). Pathological examination 7 days after the surgery showed that pathologic lesion was much more relieved in the two PA groups and the CsA group than the control group. Conclusion Acute rejection of heart transplantation can be effectively suppressed by PA.
【Abstract】Objective To explore the effect and indication of splenectomy in liver transplantation. Methods From January 2001 to April 2006, 260 patients underwent piggyback orthotopic liver transplantation (PBOLT), and 28 patients had undergone combined PBOLT and splenectomy (splenectomy group). These patients were compared to 56 randomly selected non-splenectomy patients from the same transplant period, meaningly two controls were selected for every non-splenectomy case. Two groups were analyzed with respect to rate of infection and survival rate, as well as biopsy-proven acute allograft rejection within 30 days after transplantation. Results Rate of infection in the splenectomy group was higher than that in the non-splenectomy patients (85.7% vs 55.4%, P＜0.05). Acute rejection and survival rates in the splenectomy group were lower than those in the non-splenectomy patients (3.6% vs 14.3%, P＜0.05; 46.4% vs 82.1%, P＜0.05). Conclusion Concomitant splenectomy with PBOLT has a significantly higher patient mortality rate; it is mainly due to its septic complications. At present, unless there is a certain indication for splenectomy, this procedure is not recommended.
Objective To explore the pathological features of rejection reaction and whether it accord with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in the liver transplantation model of allo-sensitized rat. Methods Twelve male Lewis rats as the recipient, 250–290 g; 6 male Brown Norway (BN) rats as the donor, 250–280 g. Twelve Lewis recipient rats were randomly divided into 4 groups by random number method (n=3): Lewis control group (LC group, without any treatment), direct transplantation group (T group, livers from BN rats were directly transplanted into Lewis rats), sensitized group (S group, spleen lymphocytes from BN rats were injected into Lewis rats), and sensitized transplantation group (TS group, splenic lymphocytes from BN rats were injected into Lewis rats for 2 weeks before liver transplantation). On the 14th day after liver transplantation, 3–4 mL of recipient non-lethal blood was collected to detect serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatinine (CRE) levels, and detect the expression of donor-specific alloantibody (DSA) and complement C4d in recipients. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were used to evaluate the morphological indexes of rat liver tissue, and CK-19, C4d and CD20 immunohistochemical staining methods were used to evaluate the degree of liver rejection and rejection activity index (RAI) score was performed. ResultsCompared with the T group, the serum AST, TB, and ALP levels, as well as the positive rates of DSA (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG2c) and C4d expression in Lewis rats in the TS group increased. Compared with the LC group, rats in the T group showed partial bile duct edema and lymphocyte infiltration, but no obvious damage of capillary structure was observed. Compared with the T group, a large number of lymphocytes or monocytes were infiltrated and capillaries were severely damaged in the anterior bile duct of rats in the TS group. The RAI and C4d scores of the TS group were higher than those of the T group. Conclusions More severe acute rejection and liver dysfunction occurred after liver transplantation in sensitized rats, and the acute rejection in sensitized rats was consistent with the characteristics of AMR. However, due to the small sample size in this study, further exploration of AMR model remains to be done.
ObjectiveTo explore apoptosis of acinar cells during pancreatic allograft rejection in rats.MethodsGroups of Wistar rats underwent heterotopic pancreaticoduodenal transplantation from syngenic Wistar of allogenic SD rats. The grafts were harvested on postoperative day 3, 5 and 7. All graft samples were subjected to histological examination and apoptotic cells of graft acinar cells using in situ terminal deoxynucleotidy1 transferasemediated dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL). Histopathological rejection score and apoptotic index (AI) were analyzed. ResultsThe incidence of apoptotic cells was increased steadily over time in allografts, in contrast with syngenic grafts. The apoptotic cells in allografts were mainly acinar cells and few infiltrating lymphocytes. A significant correlation between apoptotic index and histopathological rejection score was noted.ConclusionTUNEL can display apoptosis of single cell in situ. Apoptosis is an important mechanism of tissue injury in acute pancreatic allograft rejection in rats. Acinar cell apoptosis can be used as a valuble index to estimate the injury of grafts and to monitor the acute rejection.