Brain death affects the hepatic immunogenicity of pigs.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to observe how the brain-death state affects the hepatic immunogenicity of pigs.


METHODS
Twelve healthy ChangBai pigs were allocated randomly to 2 groups: control group (n = 6) with Foley catheter balloon placed intracalvarium for 24 hours only versus brain-death group (n = 6) with brain death for 24 hours. The serum and hepatic tissues were obtained at 6, 12, and 24 hours after the initial confirmation of brain death. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
The serum TNF-alpha and IL-6, MHC-II, ICAM-1 mRNA, and MCP-1 mRNA in hepatic tissues in the brain-death group were higher than in the control group; they all increased with time.


CONCLUSIONS
Brain death increased liver immunogenicity, which may increase the immune lesion and rejection after transplantation.
Zhang
S
S
The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China. zhangshuijun@zzu.edu.cn
Zhu
C
C
Wu
Y
Y
Zhai
W
W
Shi
J
J
Song
Y
Y
Li
J
J
Li
Z
Z
Zhang
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001926:Brain Death / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D054390:Receptors, CCR2 / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015850:Interleukin-6; D054390:Receptors, CCR2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1