Abstract
130: Graft endothelial repopulation by recipient cells in the absence of an adaptive immune response is IFN-gamma-dependent and may protect from alloinjury

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healun.2005.11.136Get rights and content

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Purpose

Endothelial repopulation by recipient-derived cells and transplant arteriosclerosis are generally interdependent, but if the replacement of the donor endothelial cell layer by recipient cells could be achieved without additional damage to the graft, this in itself might be beneficial.

Procedures

Thoracic aortae from C57BL/6 (H-2b) CD31 knockout (ko) donors were transplanted after 1 or 24 hrs of cold ischemia into the infrarenal abdominal aorta of C57BL/6 IFN-gamma ko, C57BL/6 wildtype or CBA-rag1 ko (H-2k) recipients. Some grafts were procured from their primary CBA-rag1 recipients after 30 days and re-transplanted into secondary recipients. Grafts were harvested after 30 days and H&E, Elastin van Giesson and immunohistochemistry stainings were performed.

Results

Syngeneic transplants (CD31 ko<>wildtype) with 1 hr cold ischemia were harvested after 30 days and showed completely donor-derived CD31-negative endothelium. Prolongation of the cold ischemic time to 24 hrs resulted in endothelial repopulation by recipient-derived, CD31-positive cells, but no additional damage of the aorta graft was evident. This repopulation was completely abrogated in recipients deficient for IFN-gamma. CD31 ko grafts placed into allogeneic immunodeficient CBA-rag1 recipients

Conclusion

IFN-gamma-dependent endothelial repopulation may protect vascularized grafts from alloinjury. This phenomenon is independent from the loss of antigen presenting cells from the graft during parking in primary immunodeficient hosts.

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