Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 15, 2003; 9(1): 141-147
Published online Jan 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i1.141
Functional changes of dendritic cells derived from allogeneic partial liver graft undergoing acute rejection in rats
Ming-Qing Xu, Zhen-Xiang Yao
Ming-Qing Xu, Zhen-Xiang Yao, Department of General Surgery, The First affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Science, Chongqing 400016, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Medical Scientific Foundation of Chongqing City, No. 01-2-029
Correspondence to: Dr. Ming-Qing Xu, Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. xumingqing@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-28-85400588
Received: July 4, 2002
Revised: August 3, 2002
Accepted: September 12, 2002
Published online: January 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To investigate functional change of dendritic cells (DCs) derived from allogeneic partial liver graft undergoing acute rejection in rats.

METHODS: Allogeneic (SD rat to LEW rat) whole and 50% partial liver transplantation were performed. DCs from liver grafts 0 h and 4 d after transplantation were isolated and propagated in the presence of GM-CSF in vitro. Morphological characteristics of DCs propagated for 4 d and 10 d were observed by electron microscopy. Phenotypical features of DCs propagated for 10 d were analyzed by flow cytometry. Expression of IL-12 protein and IL-12 receptor mRNA in DCs propagated for 10 d was also measured by Western blotting and semiquantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Histological grading of rejection were determined.

RESULTS: Allogeneic whole liver grafts showed no features of rejection at day 4 after transplantation. In contrast, allogeneic partial liver grafts demonstrated moderate to severe rejection at day 4 after transplantation. DCs derived from allogeneic partial liver graft 4 d after transplantation exhibited typical morphological characteristics of DC after 4 d’ culture in the presence of GM-CSF. DCs from allogeneic whole liver graft 0 h and 4 d after transplantation did not exhibit typical morphological characteristics of DC until after 10 d’ culture in the presence of GM-CSF. After 10 d’ propagation in vitro, DCs derived from allogeneic whole liver graft exhibited features of immature DC, with absence of CD40, CD80 and CD86 surface expression, and low levels of IL-12 proteins (IL-12 p35 and IL-12 p40) and IL-12 receptor (IL-12Rβ1 and IL-12Rβ2) mRNA, whereas DCs from allogeneic partial liver graft 4 d after transplantation displayed features of mature DC, with high levels of CD40, CD80 and CD86 surface expression, and as a consequence, higher expression of IL-12 proteins (IL-12 p35 and IL-12 p40) and IL-12 receptors (IL-12Rβ1 and IL-12Rβ2) mRNA than those of DCs both from partial liver graft 0 h and whole liver graft 4 d after transplantation (P < 0.001) was observed.

CONCLUSION: DCs derived from allogeneic partial liver graft undergoing acute rejection display features of mature DC.

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