Abstract
Acute graft-versus-host disease is an uncommon but devastating complication following liver transplantation (LTx-aGVHD). We investigated whether a rat model of LTx-aGVHD could be established using Lewis rat donors and (LewisXBN)F1 rats as recipients, which provides favorable conditions for studies of graft-versus-host reaction or disease. Replacement of (LewisXBN)F1 livers by Lewis livers alone was not sufficient to induce aGVHD; all recipients grew in a normal pattern as the syngeneic liver transplantation (LT) from Lewis to Lewis rat. However, when various numbers of donor splenocytes (1 × 10 8, 2 × 10 8, 3 × 10 8, 4 × 10 8) were transferred simultaneously with the LT, the morbidities of lethal aGVHD were 16.7%, 50%, 83.3%, and 100%, respectively. The clinical courses as well as histologic analyses of skin and colon showed typical aGVHD characteristics. However, unlike transfusion-associated aGVHD, the liver graft was not involved. These clinical and histologic characteristics of aGVHD were consistent with those in humans who develop aGVHD after LT. Thus, a reproducible rat model of LTx-aGVHD was developed by performing LT from Lewis to (LewisXBN)F1 rats in combination with donor splenocyte transfusion. This model may be useful for further studies on the mechanisms and effective treatment modalities for LTx-aGVHD.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
