Viral IL-10 gene transfer prolongs rat islet allograft survival.
Islet transplantation is a potential cure for diabetes. However, allotransplant rejection severely limits its clinical application. In this study, we sought to transfect rat islets with an adenoviral vector containing the viral IL-10 (vIL-10) gene and examine its efficacy in preventing graft rejection. The immunosuppressive effect of vIL-10 is reported but its efficacy is somehow debatable in transplantation model. vIL-10 transfected islets were transplanted into streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose, serum vIL-10 concentration, graft histology, and graft cytokine expression were used to monitor graft function up to day 21 after transplantation. Transfected islets released a large amount of vIL-10 protein without affecting their viability and functional integrity. When we transplanted the transfected islets into allogeneic hosts, the survival of grafted islets was not significantly increased. However, the combined use of vIL-10 and subtherapeutic doses of CsA (cyclosporine) significantly prolonged graft survival beyond that achieved with either agent alone (p < 0.001). vIL-10 and CsA-treated rats contain high level of vIL-10 in serum, which is evidenced by the inhibition of allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Histological analysis additionally revealed the presence of viable islets up to 21 days. IL-10 mRNA expression in grafted liver was higher and IFN-gamma mRNA was lower in vIL-10 and CsA-treated animals, compared with other groups. The synergistic effect of this combination therapy is potentially correlated with the induction of inhibitory cytokine secretion and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine secretion from host cells.
Kim
Yang-Hee
YH
Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 138-736, Korea.
Lim
Dong-Gyun
DG
Wee
Yu-Mee
YM
Kim
Jin-Hee
JH
Yun
Chae-Ok
CO
Choi
Monica-Y
MY
Park
Youn-Hee
YH
Kim
Song-Cheol
SC
Han
Duck-Jong
DJ
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006082:Graft Enhancement, Immunologic; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007328:Insulin; D014764:Viral Proteins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005947:Glucose