Acute cell-mediated rejection in orthotopic pig-to-mouse corneal xenotransplantation.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the role of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells in mediating corneal xenograft rejection in a pig-to-mouse model.


METHODS
Pig corneas were orthotopically transplanted into BALB/c, C57BL/6, nude, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and NOD/SCID/gammac(null) (NOG) mice. Graft survival was clinically assessed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and median survival times (MST) were calculated. The rejected grafts were histologically evaluated using antibodies against CD4, CD8, NK1.1, and F4/80.


RESULTS
The pig corneal xenografts were acutely rejected by BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice (MST 9.0 days), while nude, SCID and NOG mice rejected pig corneas in a more delayed fashion (MST 16.0, 16.4, and 16.9 days, respectively). The majority of infiltrating cells found in rejected grafts in C57BL/6 mice were macrophages and CD4(+) T cells, while CD8(+) T cells and NK cells were rarely found. The grafts in nude mice had markedly decreased inflammatory infiltration with small numbers of macrophages and CD4(+) T cells. Infiltration was even more modest in grafts in SCID and NOG mice.


CONCLUSIONS
T cells play an important role in acute rejection of pig corneal xenografts in mice, although acute rejection is not solely the result of T-cell-mediated immunity. NK cells are less likely to be involved in the rejection process.
Oh
Joo Youn
JY
Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Seoul National University Hospital Clinical Research Institute, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Mee Kum
MK
Ko
Jung Hwa
JH
Lee
Hyun Ju
HJ
Kim
Youngji
Y
Park
Chan-Sik
CS
Park
Chung-Gyu
CG
Kim
Sang Joon
SJ
Wee
Won Ryang
WR
Lee
Jin Hak
JH
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000276:immunology; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD / Q000276:immunology; D008819:Mice, Nude / Q000276:immunology; D016513:Mice, SCID / Q000276:immunology; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000276:immunology*