A novel method for preserving human lungs using a super-cooling system.
OBJECTIVE
To ensure the suitable preservation of isolated lungs, a super-cooling system was used to cool water to temperatures as low as -5 degrees C without freezing.


METHODS
After lung tissues were obtained from patients with lung cancer, they were kept at -5 degrees C or 4 degrees C for as many as 5 days, and then they were histologically and biochemically examined. To evaluate biochemical stability, tissues after storage were passively sensitized with immunoglobulin E and then incubated with anti-immunoglobulin-E antibody.


RESULTS
Although tissues preserved at -5 degrees C for 5 days had an almost normal appearance with intact cilia on bronchial epithelium and normal endothelium, tissues stored at 4 degrees C showed degradation of these structures. Single-stranded DNA, a sign of DNA cleavage, was frequently noted in tissues stored at 4 degrees C, but only rarely observed at -5 degrees C. A significant amount of cysteinyl-leukotrienes was generated from tissues stored at -5 degrees C for 3 days, but there was no response to antibody stimulation from tissues stored at 4 degrees C.


CONCLUSIONS
Super-cooling systems may provide useful applications as a novel preserving method.
Abe
Masayoshi
M
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan. abemasa@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
Jimi
Shiro
S
Hama
Hiroshi
H
Shiraishi
Takeshi
T
Iwasaki
Akinori
A
Ono
Nobuhumi
N
Shirakusa
Takayuki
T
Katsuragi
Takeshi
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000494:pharmacology; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000032:analysis; D017998:Leukotriene D4 / Q000032:analysis; D017999:Leukotriene E4 / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000601:surgery / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D012034:Refrigeration / Q000295:instrumentation; D055672:Static Electricity; D013696:Temperature; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; C037096:Euro-Collins' solution; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D017998:Leukotriene D4; D017999:Leukotriene E4