Collagen gel coating or cyclosporine A for improving histocompatibility of chicken calamus keratin.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the histocompatibility of chicken calamus keratin (CCK) graft by collagen-gel coating or using of cyclosporine A (CsA).


METHODS
Thirty SD rats were equally randomized into 5 groups, and in 4 of them, CCK implantation into the bilateral erector spinae was performed on different treatment protocols. In group A, the rats received daily intraperitoneal injection of CsA (5 mg/kg) for two consecutive weeks after CCK implantation; in group B, CCK was soaked in CsA (2.5 mg/ml) solution at 4 degrees Celsius; for 48 h before grafting; in group C, CCK coated with collagen gel was grafted; and in group D, only CCK was implanted. Rats in the fifth group received only cutaneous incision as well as muscular dissection to serve as the blank control. CCK degradation and its effect on the surrounding tissues were observed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after grafting. Immunohistochemistry was performed to identify T lymphocyte infiltration in the host tissues.


RESULTS
All the rats survived the operation. Numerous macrophages, especially multinucleated giant cells occurred on the peripheral of the CCK grafts, and small degraded CCK pieces were observed in their cytoplasm. Only a few inflammatory cells were seen in the host tissues. At 2, 4 and 8 weeks after CCK implantation, only a few CD3-positive cells were found in all the groups, and in group A and B, the density of T lymphocytes was significantly lower than that in group D, and there was no significant difference between group A and the blank control group.


CONCLUSIONS
CsA significantly improves the histocompatibility of CCK material, and short-term systemic CsA administration achieves the best results. Macrophages, especially multinucleated giant cells participate in CCK degradation in vivo.
Dong
Wei-ren
WR
Department of Histology and Embryology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. wrdong@fimmu.com
Qiu
Xin-xia
XX
Zhao
Bing-lei Jun
BL
Chen
Ying-hua
YH
Xiao
Ying-qing
YQ
Guo
Jia-song
JS
Zou
Zhong-zhi
ZZ
D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D002645:Chickens; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D005241:Feathers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006648:Histocompatibility / Q000187:drug effects*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007633:Keratins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013131:Spine; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
D017252:CD3 Complex; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005782:Gels; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007633:Keratins; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003094:Collagen