A new model of corneal transplantation in the miniature pig: efficacy of immunosuppressive treatment.
Corneal allograft rejection is frequently studied in small rodent or rabbit models. To study mechanisms of rejection in a model that more closely mimics transplantation in humans, we performed orthotopic corneal transplantation in the miniature pig using a 7-mm diameter donor graft. Four groups of recipients were studied: 1) untreated naive, 2) untreated vascularized (high risk), 3) high-risk grafts treated by topical application of prednisolone, or 4) high-risk grafts treated with a combined systemic immunosuppression regime of oral prednisone, cyclosporine A, and mycophenolate mofetil. Both the clinical features and histological assessment of corneal graft rejection showed close similarities to graft rejection in humans. Interestingly, preliminary results indicated that topical steroid treatment was superior to systemic immunosuppression in significantly promoting graft survival. Thus, corneal transplantation in the pig represents an animal model most closely resembling corneal grafting in humans, and offers possibilities for testing various clinically applicable immunosuppressive treatments.
Tavandzi
Urania
U
Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
Procházka
Radek
R
Usvald
Dusan
D
Hlucílová
Jana
J
Vitásková
Martina
M
Motlík
Jan
J
Vítová
Andrea
A
Filipec
Martin
M
Forrester
John V
JV
Holán
Vladimír
V
D000818:Animals; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000379:methods*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents