Delayed rejection of heart allografts after extracorporeal donor-specific liver hemoperfusion. Role of Kupffer cells.
Liver allografts have a privileged status in regard to acute rejection. In this experimental study, we have analyzed the immunosuppressive effects of an extracorporeal liver hemoperfusion. In the LEW-to-BN combination of inbred rats, donor-specific liver hemoperfusion can significantly delay acute rejection of heart allografts. Analysis of the immunological status of these animals revealed a significant decrease in donor-specific lymphocytotoxic antibodies and in cytotoxic T lympholysis. Reactivity in mixed lymphocyte culture was normal. After third-party (DA) liver hemoperfusion or after donor-specific (LEW) splenic hemoperfusion, prolongation of heart allograft survival was moderate. Previous blockade of Kupffer cells suppressed the effects of donor-specific liver hemoperfusion. These results suggest that the sequestration by Kupffer cells of a clone of cytotoxic T cells and/or lymphocytotoxic antibodies may explain the immunosuppressive effects of donor-specific liver hemoperfusion.
Gugenheim
J
J
Groupe de Recherche de Chirurgie Hepatique, CNRS ER 277, IRSC, Hospital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France.
Charpentier
B
B
Gigou
M
M
Cuomo
O
O
Calise
F
F
Amorosa
L
L
Astarcioglu
I
I
Trias i Folch
M
M
Martin
B
B
Bismuth
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006464:Hemoperfusion; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous