title: Ferret lung transplant: an orthotopic model of obliterative bronchiolitis.
abstract: Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is the primary cause of late morbidity and mortality following lung transplantation. Current animal models do not reliably develop OB pathology. Given the similarities between ferret and human lung biology, we hypothesized an orthotopic ferret lung allograft would develop OB. Orthotopic left lower lobe transplants were successfully performed in 22 outbred domestic ferrets in the absence of immunosuppression (IS; n = 5) and presence of varying IS protocols (n = 17). CT scans were performed to evaluate the allografts. At intervals between 3-6 months the allografts were examined histologically for evidence of acute/chronic rejection. IS protects allografts from acute rejection and early graft loss. Reduction of IS dosage by 50% allowed development of controlled rejection. Allografts developed infiltrates on CT and classic histologic acute rejection and lymphocytic bronchiolitis. Cycling of IS, to induce repeated episodes of controlled rejection, promoted classic histologic hallmarks of OB including fibrosis-associated occlusion of the bronchiolar airways in all allografts of long-term survivors. In conclusion, we have developed an orthotopic lung transplant model in the ferret with documented long-term functional allograft survival. Allografts develop acute rejection and lymphocytic bronchiolitis, similar to humans. Long-term survivors develop histologic changes in the allografts that are hallmarks of OB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Klesney-Tait
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skopec
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Meyerholz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zavazava
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iannettoni
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Parekh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005289:Ferrets; D005355:Fibrosis; D006084:Graft Rejection; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013183:Sputum; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents