Alteration of Lymphocyte Functions and Protein Synthesis in the Autologous Transplanted Spleen

Abstract

Objective:To investigate the funotions of autotransplanted spleen.Methods:Thirty-two female SD rats were equally divided into 2 groups:the sham-operated group and the spleen autotransplantation group.The antibody responses of spleen cells to sheep red blood cells (SRBC)and the proliferation rate induced by mitogen stimulation were performed.Protein composition of splenic tissue was analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)22weeks after operation.Results:Antibody responses to SRBC were not different from the controls and the autotransplants(P＜0.01).The stimulation index by ConA for T cell decreased remarkably and the proliferation of B cells after LPS stimulation in transplants was normal.These findings indicated a normal development of B cell and a altered development of T cell in the transpants.Eleetrophoresis showed mainly two protein groups with a molecular weight of 16 000 and 29 000 produced in normally detectable concentration in the spleen cells but not in autotransplant cells.Proteins with a molecular weight of 19 000 were over produced in the autotransplant.The findings showed a clear difference between the normal spleen and the transplant on the functional and molecular levels.Conclusions:Simple splenic autotransplants after splenectomy can not prevent overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. Key words: Spleen; Transplantation,autologous; Antigen-antibody reactions