title: Prolongation of islet allograft survival in mice by combined treatment with pravastatin and low-dose cyclosporine.
abstract: Pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, is known to have suppressive effects on immune and inflammatory cells. We have previously shown in mice and dogs that this agent prevents primary nonfunction of islet iso- and autografts by reducing inflammation at the graft site. The present study was designed to further investigate whether pravastatin has a synergistic effect with cyclosporine (Cs) to prolong islet allograft survival in mice. Unpurified 3000 BALB/c newborn islets were transplanted under the renal capsule of a streptozotocin-diabetic C57BL/6 mouse. Pravastatin and Cs were administered for 10 days starting on the day of grafting (day 0). Five groups were set up based on the treatment protocol: group 1, treatment with 40 mg/kg pravastatin; group 2, 30 mg/kg Cs; group 3, 50 mg/kg Cs; group 4, 40 mg/kg pravastatin and 30 mg/kg Cs; group 5, vehicle alone. Graft survival was indicated by blood glucose levels sustained at <200 mg/dl, and graft rejection by >250 mg/dl for 2 consecutive days. Hyperglycemia persisted in six of the eight (75%) mice and grafts were rejected in 3.6 +/- 0.5 days (mean +/- SD) in group 5. In group 1, grafts were also rejected in 3.8 +/- 0.8 days, but blood glucose was transiently <200 mg/dl in three of the five mice. Despite Cs, grafts were rejected between 7 and 15 days (10.3 +/- 2.4 days) in group 2. Among six mice in group 3, one maintained euglycemia for >60 days, the other rejected the graft on day 15, and the remaining four died with functioning grafts between 9 and 13 days due to Cs toxicity. A combination of a low dose of Cs and pravastatin (group 4) prolonged graft survival for >19 days in five of the eight mice, and for 7-13 days in the remaining three mice. Histological examination of the grafts in this group showed significantly reduced local inflammation. Results indicate a synergistic effect of pravastatin and Cs on prevention of islet allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center/West Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasraie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Une
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mullen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001835:Body Weight; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000473:pathology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D017035:Pravastatin