[An in vivo study of reseeding endothelial cell for attenuation of hyperacute rejection after xenotransplantation].

Abstract

Unlabelled: To investigate the possible significance and usefulness of reseeding the endothelial cell of recipient for the prevention of hyperacute rejection (HAR) resulting from the xenograft.

Methods: Discordant xenotransplantation model (guinea pig-to-rat) was adopted in this study. Firstly endothelial cells from rat abdominal aorta were separated and cultured. Secondly the guinea pig abdominal aorta of which the endothelium had been removed was cultured with the suspension containing rat endothelial cells (4 x 10(6)/ml). The viability of cultured vessel was assessed using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Thirdly, the guinea pig vessels reseeded with rat endothelial cells were transplanted to rat in vivo. The thrombrosis time was observed. The condition of deposit of IgM and C3 in the recipient's transplanted vessel endothelium was examined by immuno-fluorescence staining assay.

Results: The thrombrosis time of the guinea pig vessel reseeded with rat endothelial cells (20.3 + 4.42 h) was significantly prolonged as compared with that of the normal guinea pig vessel (0.35 + 0.284 h) and the guinea pig vessel that had been deprived of endothelium (0.165 + 0.77 h). No deposit of IgM and C3 was seen in the new endothelium of guinea pig vessel in the treated group, whereas deposit of IgM and C3 was observed in the untreated normal guinea pig aorta.

Conclusion: Donor vessels reseeded with endothelial cells from the recipient will undergo less severe rejection and this technique may be very useful in the attenuation of HAR.