T cell and B cell tolerance to GALalpha1,3GAL-expressing heart xenografts is achieved in alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase-deficient mice by nonmyeloablative induction of mixed chimerism.
BACKGROUND
We have previously demonstrated that mixed xenogeneic chimerism and donor-specific T-cell tolerance can be induced in the rat-to-mouse species combination by using a relatively nontoxic, nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen. However, natural antibodies (NAbs) against Galalpha1,3Gal (Gal) pose an additional major barrier to pig-to-human vascularized xenograft acceptance.


METHODS
To determine whether the mixed chimerism approach could also overcome this humoral barrier, T cell-depleted rat (GalT+/+) bone marrow cells (BMC) were transplanted to alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase deficient (GalT-/-) mice conditioned with a nonmyeloablative regimen, consisting of transient T cell and natural killer (NK) cell depletion, 3 Gy whole body irradiation, and 7 Gy thymic irradiation.


RESULTS
By giving a high dose (180x106) of rat BMC, persistent mixed chimerism could be induced in GalT-/- mice, although the level of donor-type hematopoietic repopulation declined over time. Induction of mixed chimerism was associated with a rapid disappearance of anti-Gal and anti-rat NAb in the sera. Both anti-Gal Ab-producing cells and B cells with receptors recognizing Gal were undetectable in mixed chimeras, even when the chimerism levels declined, suggesting that a very low level of chimerism could effectively maintain B-cell tolerance to Gal, probably by clonal deletion and/or receptor editing. Mixed chimeras accepted subsequently transplanted donor-type rat hearts (>100 days) without immunosuppressive therapy, whereas delayed vascular and even hyperacute rejection of rat hearts occurred in conditioned control GalT-/- mice. Cellular rejection occurred by 5-6 days in conditioned control wild-type mice.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate that induction of mixed chimerism with a nonmyeloablative regimen can prevent vascularized xenograft rejection by cellular and anti-Gal Ab-dependent pathways in GalT+/+-to-GalT-/- species combinations.
Ohdan
H
H
Bone Marrow Transplantation Section, Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, MGH East, Building 149-5102, 13th Street, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
Yang
Y G
YG
Swenson
K G
KG
Kitamura
H
H
Sykes
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002678:Chimera; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005700:Galactosyltransferases / Q000172:deficiency; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D004187:Disaccharides; C055075:galactosyl-(1-3)galactose; D005700:Galactosyltransferases; C047006:N-acetyllactosaminide alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase