A novel model of portal vein transplantation in mice using two-cuff technique.
Allogeneic portal vein (PV) grafts have been widely used for vascular reconstruction in the aggressive biliary-pancreatic surgery and partial liver transplantation. We developed a novel PV transplantation model aimed at studying the pathologic alteration of the grafts and further managements. The PV graft was implanted orthotopically into the recipient using two-cuff technique. A total of 80 PV transplants have been performed, and the overall survival rate for the recipients was 91.3% (73/80). Mice were randomly separated into isografts group, allografts group, and allografts group treated with CTLA4-Ig. PV grafts were harvested on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 8th postoperative week. The isografts remained intact vascular structure, and the allografts developed marked rejection with significant increase in wall thickness (95 +/- 19 microm vs. 49 +/- 7 microm; P < 0.01) and decrease in lumen area (1.9 +/- 1.1 x 10(4) microm(2) vs. 7.7 +/- 3.1 x 10(4) microm(2); P < 0.01) on the 4th week. In the CTLA4-Ig treated group, the vascular thickness and lumen area were significantly improved when compared with the untreated allografts (wall-thickness: 53 +/- 3 microm vs. 95 +/- 19 microm, P < 0.01; lumen area: 8.8 +/- 2.4 x 10(4) microm(2) vs. 1.9 +/- 1.1 x 10(4) microm(2), P < 0.01) on the 4th week. In conclusion, the PV transplantation model in mice using two-cuff technique is a feasible procedure with a high survival rate. The PV allografts responded well to the CTLA4-Ig therapy in our preliminary research by the model.
Yan
Sheng
S
Department of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Surgery and Liver Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Zhang
Qiyi
Q
Cai
Minxia
M
Yu
Da
D
Chen
Jie
J
Yu
Pengfei
P
Zhao
Qiyu
Q
Zhou
Lin
L
Hoffmann
Matthias
M
Zheng
Shusen
S
D000069594:Abatacept; D000818:Animals; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000494:pharmacology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014185:Transplantation, Isogeneic; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069594:Abatacept