title: Prolonged survival effects induced by immature dendritic cells and regulatory T cells in a rat liver transplantation model.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory T (Treg) cells are crucial for inducing immune tolerance. However, the suppressive function of infused Treg cells and immature DCs (imDCs) following solid organ transplantation remains unclear.
  
  
  
  ImDCs derived from DA-donor rats and Treg cells isolated from spleens of Lewis rats were prepared. A heterotopic liver transplantation model was established to examine the immune tolerance effects of infusion of Treg-imDCs, imDCs and Treg cells individually. Th1/Th2 cytokines and TRAL were detected by ELISA. The overall rejection grade was assessed and the rejection activity index (RAI) was calculated. TUNEL-positive lymphocytes were detected in the portal area in liver sections.
  
  
  
  The infusion of Treg-imDCs was more effective than imDCs or Treg cells individually. Moreover, the expression of IL-10 and TGF-β1 was significantly up-regulated, and IL-12 expression was significantly down-regulated, especially in the Treg-imDCs group. The percentage of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in the Treg cells and imDCs groups. The RAI values in Treg-imDCs group on days 3 and 7 were lower than control, imDCs and Treg cells groups individually (p<0.05). Both TBIL and ALT levels in the Treg-imDCs and imDCs groups were significantly lower than those of the control and Treg cells groups, and serum TRAL levels increased significantly 10days after transplantation in the imDC and Treg-imDC groups compared with the control and Treg cells groups (P<0.001).
  
  
  
  These data demonstrated that infusion of Treg cells and/or imDCs induces alloantigen tolerance and prolongs liver allograft survival. The infusion of Treg-imDCs was more effective than imDCs or Treg cells individually. ImDCs synergize with Treg cells in inducing and maintaining the feedback loop between imDCs and Treg cells in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Provincial Hospital, Provincial Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China.
authors.forename: Wubing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, China; Department of Pathology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China. Electronic address: drlhchen@sina.com.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350025, China.
authors.forename: Liuping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350004, China.
authors.forename: Lingyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D064591:Allografts; D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation
keywords: Dendritic cells; Immune tolerance; Liver transplantation; Regulatory T cells