title: A rat model of monitoring liver allograft rejection.
abstract: Rat models are often used to study liver allograft rejection. We have established a model for rat liver allograft rejection, monitored by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), in the strain combination PVG-to-BN with a mean survival time of 37 +/- 20 days. In this model, we observed acute rejection with an intense peak of lymphoid blasts and lymphocyte-dominated inflammation in the FNAB [9.1 +/- 3.0 corrected increment units (CIU)], and an eventual increase in macrophages (up to 4.2 +/- 4.4 CIU), together with fibrosis and parenchymal necrosis in the graft. Markers of immune activation, such as an increase in IL-2-receptor (from 1% +/- 2% to 21% +/- 13%) and class II (from 20% +/- 9% to 43% +/- 13%) expressing lymphoid cells and induction of ICAM-1 in the graft, were consistent with the overall cellular response. The FNAB correlated well with parallel graft histology. In this rat model, the atraumatic monitoring makes a close follow-up possible without having to sacrifice the experimental animals. This saves work, animals, and costs in the study of liver rejection.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martelius
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mäkisalo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Höckerstedt
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taskinen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007249:Inflammation; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1