Primate cardiac allo-and xenotransplantation: modulation of the immune response with photochemotherapy

Eur Surg Res. 1989;21(2):105-13. doi: 10.1159/000129010.

Abstract

Survival of heterotopic allo- and xenografts was studied in a primate cardiac transplantation model. Initially, animals were presensitized to donor xenoantigens by blood transfusion and treated with strategies designed to elicit pretransplant immunosuppression. These animals underwent rapid rejection whether treated with ciclosporin and conventional immunosuppression, autologous sera, sensitized lymphocytes, or photochemotherapy. In a nonsensitized xenograft study, xenografts were maintained for prolonged periods with a combination of ciclosporin and photochemotherapy. All animals treated with photochemotherapy demonstrated periodic suppression of the mixed leukocyte culture response to their donor. Inhibition of lymphocytotoxic antibody was achieved only in animals treated with both ciclosporin and photochemotherapy. Xenosensitized animals were secondarily exposed to donor alloantigens. These animals were successfully allografted. Ciclosporin therapy was terminated and the animals maintained by photochemotherapy alone. This preliminary trial indicates that a combination of ciclosporin and photochemotherapy may be of value in maintaining concordant xenografts and preventing antibody mediated rejection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation*
  • Cyclosporins / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Graft Survival
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Immunization
  • Immunologic Techniques
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Male
  • Papio
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Preoperative Care
  • Steroids / therapeutic use
  • Tissue Donors
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Cyclosporins
  • Steroids