The study of peripheral blood mononuclear cell MHC I and MHC II gene mRNA expression in acute graft rejection.
BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis of acute graft rejection is important in the clinic. To explore a reliable diagnostic marker, we selected skin-grafted rabbits as an animal model to study peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) major histocompatibility complex 1 (MHC I) and MHC II gene mRNA in acute graft rejection (AGR).


METHODS
Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups to observe skin graft rejection: three rabbits were in the autograft control group; six rabbits in a cyclosporine (CsA) treated allografted group; and the other six rabbits in untreated allografted group. The CsA-treated allografted group was given CsA (5 mg/kg) daily intramuscularly. PBMC samples were obtained every 2 days to detect by real-time polymerase chain reaction, PBMC MHC I and MHC II gene mRNA.


RESULTS
MHC I and MHC II gene mRNA levels did not show any obvious change in the autografted controls. MHC I gene mRNA levels showed a slow increase in the CsA-treated allografted group, but no obvious change in the untreated allografted group. MHC II gene mRNA reached the highest level at 2 to 3 days before graft rejection appeared macroscopically in the CsA-treated allografted group and untreated allografted group, then decreasing to a low level.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with MHC I gene mRNA expression, PBMC MHC II gene mRNA expression may be considered to be an earlier marker for AGR.
Li
X-D
XD
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Zou
X
X
Zhang
Y
Y
Lu
N
N
Wan
F-R
FR
Zhao
S-M
SM
Li
X-L
XL
Jiang
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D011817:Rabbits; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012333:RNA, Messenger