Synergistic actions of the vitamin D analogue MC 1288 and 15‐deoxyspergualin in xenotransplantation

Abstract

Abstract: The vitamin D analogue MC 1288 (20‐epi‐1α,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol) effectively postpones rejection of cardiac, intestinal, skin, and aortic allografts. MC 1288 binds to the vitamin D receptor and is thus assumed to exert its immunosuppressive effects via the same mechanisms as 1α,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol, the active form of vitamin D. 1α,25‐Dihydroxycholecalciferol has been demonstrated to inhibit the production of various cytokines (interleukin‐2, interferon‐γ, granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, and interleukin‐12) and to prevent B lymphocyte secretion of immunoglobulins. In the present study MC 1288 was evaluated for its ability to prevent rejection of mouse‐to‐rat cardiac xenografts, alone and in combination with 15‐deoxyspergualin (DSG). Combined treatment with MC 1288 (given days ‐1 to 9) and DSG (given day ‐1 and onward) postponed rejection from day 3.0 (untreated recipients) until day 19.5. In rats treated with MC 1288 or DSG as monotherapy, rejection occurred after 3.0 and 7.5 days, respectively. Functioning grafts, obtained on day 9 from recipients treated with MC 1288 and DSG in combination, displayed an almost normal morphology without any obvious deposition of immunoglobulins in the vessels of the grafts and with just a few infiltrating cells. Thus, we have demonstrated synergistic actions of MC 1288 and DSG in delaying rejection of xenografts. Analysis of cellular infiltration, immunoglobulin deposition and graft survival times in the various treatment groups indicate a combined inhibitory effect of these two drugs on the level of macrophage effector function, direct or indirect via T lymphocytes, as well as on antibody production.