Hyperacute lung rejection in the pig-to-human model. 2. Synergy between soluble and membrane complement inhibition.
BACKGROUND
The role of complement in hyperacute lung xenograft rejection has not been elucidated. The present study evaluates the effect of complement (C) C3/C5 convertase inhibition on hyperacute rejection of pig lung by human blood.


METHODS
In an established ex-vivo model, lungs from pigs heterozygous for human decay accelerating factor (hDAF), non-transgenic littermate control pigs, or farm-bred pigs were perfused with fresh human blood that was either unmodified or treated with soluble complement receptor type 1 (sCR1: TP10, 100 microg/ml).


RESULTS
Non-transgenic lungs from littermate controls had a median survival time of 35 min (range 5 to 210; P = 0.25 vs. farm-bred piglets: median 5 min, range 5 to 10). Lungs expressing hDAF survived for a median of 90 min (range 10 to 161; P = 0.5 and 0.01 vs. littermate and farm-bred controls, respectively), with sCR1, whereas hDAF (-) lungs failed by 35 min (range 6 to 307), hDAF (+) lungs survived for 330 min (range 39 to 577) [P = 0.002 vs. farm-bred; P = 0.08 vs. hDAF (-); P = 0.17 vs. sCR1/hDAF (-)]. The rise in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) at 5 min was blunted only by hDAF (+) with sCR1 (0.26 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.5 to 0.7 mmHg/ml/min for other groups). Plasma C3a and sC5b-9 and tissue deposition of C5b-9 were dramatically diminished using sCR1, and further decreased in association with hDAF. Histamine and thromboxane were produced rapidly in all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Complement plays an important role in lung HAR. However, even potent inhibition of C3/C5 convertase, both membrane bound in lung and by a soluble-phase inhibitor in the blood, does not prevent activation of inflammatory responses known to be particularly injurious to the lung. Our findings implicate a role for innate immune pathways resistant to efficient complement regulation. The role of anti-species antibody, coagulation pathway dysregulation, and additional environmental or genetic influences remain to be defined.
Azimzadeh
A
A
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Vanderbilt Clinic, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 38232-5734, USA. agnes.azimzadeh@vanderbilt.edu
Zorn
G L
GL
Blair
K S A
KS
Zhang
J P
JP
Pfeiffer
S
S
Harrison
R A
RA
Cozzi
E
E
White
D J G
DJ
Pierson
R N
RN
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D018958:CD55 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D050577:Complement C3-C5 Convertases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000276:immunology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate; D013552:Swine; D013931:Thromboxanes / Q000378:metabolism; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000276:immunology
D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D018958:CD55 Antigens; D011951:Receptors, Complement; D013931:Thromboxanes; C082885:soluble complement inhibitor 1; D006632:Histamine; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D050577:Complement C3-C5 Convertases