Effects of a small non-peptidic CD4 inhibitor J2 in prevention of mouse corneal allograft rejection

Abstract

To investigate the effects of small non-peptidic CD4 inhibitor J2 on the prevention of allograft rejection in mouse corneal transplantation. Twenty-three C57BL/6 mice (donor) and 76 BALB/c mice (recipients) were used to establish corneal allograft model, and were divided into 4 groups randomly. Group A, autograft control; Group B, allograft control (placebo was given in both control groups); Group C and Group D, allograft groups, were treated with orally ciclosporin A and J2, respectively. Drugs were delivered for 12 days beginning on the day of transplantation. Graft survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. On day 21 after transplantation, flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and histological examination of graft were performed. No graft rejection was observed in Group A. The average transplant survival time of Group B was (17.8 +/- 2.1) d. In Group D, the transplant survival time showed a statistically prolongation to (40.6 +/- 8.3) d (P = 0.00) as compared with Group B, but the survival time was less than that of Group A (P = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between Group D and Group C (38.1 +/- 9.9) d (P = 0.99). The results of flow cytometry analysis showed that CD4(+) cells and CD8(+) cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not increase in Group D. Fewer inflammatory cells were found in the corneal allograft in Group D. J2 could inhibit rejection and prolong corneal allograft survival time in mouse.