Angiotensin II receptor expression following intestinal transplantation in mice.
BACKGROUND
To further improve the success rate of intestinal transplantation there is a need to find early appearing indicators of rejection. The specific aim of this study was to compare Angiotensin (Ang) II type 1 receptor and Ang II type 2 receptor expression in relation to histological signs of rejection.


METHODS
Mice of the C57BL6 strain with syngeneic intestinal grafts were compared to mice subjected to allogeneic intestinal transplantation with BalbC strain as donors. Local expression of Ang II type 1 and 2 receptor was evaluated using rt-PCR and Western blot and compared to histological picture in grafts and native intestine.


RESULTS
The Ang II type 2 receptor protein expression was markedly up-regulated in the allogeneically transplanted graft from day 1 postoperatively. Histological signs of rejection were not seen until day 6.


CONCLUSIONS
Intestinal allograft transplantation in mice is associated with a marked up-regulation of the Ang II type 2 receptor. However, the detailed role of the renin-angiotensin system in the immune rejection following intestinal transplantation remains to be clarified.
Department of Gastrosurgical Research, Institute of Surgical Sciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. emma.spak@gastro.gu.se
Emma
E
Spak
Sara
S
Ewert
Michael
M
Vieth
Lars
L
Fändriks
Anders
A
Aneman
Michael
M
Olausson
George
G
Dindelegan
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015870:Gene Expression; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation
D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2