Discordant xenograft rejection in an antibody-free model.
Newborn pigs prevented from suckling colostrum were shown to have less than 0.05 micrograms/ml total immunoglobulin present in their serum. Rabbit heart xenografts transplanted heterotopically into the neck of such pigs were hyperacutely rejected, with a mean survival time of 92 +/- 14 min (mean +/- SD). Pigs which had been allowed to suckle and whose serum contained 10-15 mg/ml maternal immunoglobulin hyperacutely rejected rabbit heart xenografts in 109 +/- 62 min. Histological studies showed no Ig binding but complement component 3 (C3) binding to rabbit hearts placed in immunoglobulin-negative pigs. Prolongation of rabbit heart xenograft survival was achieved by administering cobra venom factor (1 mg/kg) to the pigs pretransplant. These data show hyperacute xenograft rejection in the absence of antibody and suggest that its cause is activation of complement by the alternative pathway.
Johnston
P S
PS
University of Cambridge, Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, United Kingdom.
Wang
M W
MW
Lim
S M
SM
Wright
L J
LJ
White
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006084:Graft Rejection; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011817:Rabbits; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology*; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic
D003165:Complement System Proteins