Immunological advantage on small bowel graft induced by simultaneously transplanted liver in porcine auxiliary liver/small bowel transplantation.
BACKGROUND
We developed a new porcine model for auxiliary liver/small bowel transplantation (LSBT). The possible immunological advantage on small bowel graft induced by simultaneously transplanted liver in the large animal was assessed.


METHODS
Thirty outbreed long-white pigs were randomized into two groups. Group A animals received LSBT without immunosuppressive treatment (n = 10). Group B animals had segmental small bowel allotransplantation without immunosuppressive treatment (n = 10). The postoperative survival time, initial acute rejection time, and pathological rejection scores were analyzed.


RESULTS
There was no remarkable difference in survival time between groups A and B (10.33 days vs 12.89 days, P > .05), but the initial time of acute rejection in intestinal grafts in group A was obviously delayed when compared to group B (8.22 days vs 4.33 days, P < .05), and the rejection scores in group A were remarkably lower than those of group B (0 vs 0.44 on postoperative day (POD) 3, P < .05; 0.22 vs 1.78 on POD 5, P < .05; 1.11 vs 2.56 on POD 7, P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
An immunological advantage on intestinal graft can be induced by simultaneously transplanted liver in auxiliary LSBT. Compared to isolated segmental small bowel allotransplantation, the intestinal graft in LSBT has a delayed initial time of acute rejection and lower acute rejection scores. The liver graft may reduce the risk of intestinal rejection and thus protect the bowel graft.
Yin
Z
Z
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xiamen University Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian Province, PR China. yinzhenyumd@yahoo.com
Wang
X
X
Li
N
N
Ni
X
X
Jiang
F
F
Li
Y
Y
Li
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000637:transplantation*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000502:physiology*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents