The immunomodulator LS-2616 (linomide) more effectively than sensitization of the donor enhances graft-versus-host reaction after small bowel transplantation

Abstract

The effects of the immunomodulating substance LS-2616 (linomide) on graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) were investigated in a semi-syngeneic small bowel transplantation model. The entire bowel of Lewis donors were transplanted heterotopically into (Lewis × BN) F 1 hybrids. Both untreated animals and animals treated with LS-2616, in a daily dose of 160 mg/kg, developed a lethal GVHR. The median survival time in untreated animals was 14.5 days while in LS-2616 treated animals it was just eight days ( p < 0.01). LS-2616 in combination with cyclosporin A (CyA), 15 mg/kg given orally on days 0–20, did not seem to alter the survival times compared with CyA treatment alone; 56% of the animals treated with CyA survived for more than 100 days and after combined treatment with CyA/LS-2616 there were 50% permanent survivors. Also the effect of earlier sensitization of the donor on the course of GVHR was investigated. Hearts from BN rats were transplanted heterotopically to the neck vessels of Lewis rats. The hearts were rejected on about day six; five days later the bowels were harvested and transplanted into (Lewis × BN) F 1 hybrids. The median survival time in this group was 12.5 days. Taken together our results, in combination with earlier findings, suggest that, at the level of effector mechanisms, GVHR is not an exact mirror image of rejection. Also, LS-2616 appears to be a useful tool for further studies of the mechanisms of action of GVHR.