S. Hoshino

Monitoring for engraftment following rat orthotopic liver transplantation by in vitro amplification of Y-chromosome gene using polymerase chain reaction

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific for the rat Y-chromosome gene made it possible to distinguish a very small number of male rat cells from a large excess of female rat cells. In nonimmunosuppressed LEW recipients of ACI liver allografts, the donor cells in the bloodstream disappeared rapidly by day 3, earlier than the biochemical changes indicative of liver dysfunction. In immunosuppressed LEW recipients of ACI liver allografts, the donor cells were detected for a longer time. Moreover, in LEW recipients surviving for long period, the PCR revealed mixed-microchimerism. Our results indicated that this Y chromosomal gene-specific PCR method is useful for assessing engraftment following rat liver transplantation.

Expressions of p53 and PCNA do not correlate with the international index or early response to chemotherapy in non‐Hodgkin's Lymphoma

The expression of p53 and PCNA on deparaffinized sections of tumor was assessed in relation to the International Index and response to chemotherapy. Thirty‐five non‐Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) patients were divided into three groups: aggressive NHL, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and low‐grade NHL. None of the expressions correlated with the International Index or early response to chemotherapy in any group. In low‐grade NHL, none of the patients expressed p53. Only one of three patients with overexpression of p53 showed conformational change and alteration of sequence in exon 7 by PCR‐SSCP and DNA sequencing. The results showed that p53 and PCNA staining were not useful for predicting early response to chemotherapy, and that their expressions had no correlation with the International Index. Am. J. Hematol. 58:42–48, 1998.

Establishment of chimerism in donor liver with recipient‐type bone marrow cells prior to liver transplantation produces marked suppression of allograft rejection in rats

Abstract In this study, we investigated whether establishment of chimerism in donor liver with recipient‐type bone marrow cells (BMCs) prior to liver transplantation could prolong the liver allograft survival. Donor female ACI rats were inoculated with recipient‐type BMCs of male LEW rats via the portal vein, with or without irradiation as cytoablation, followed by intramuscular administration of FK506 for 5 days. At 1–2 months later, livers were harvested and transplanted into naive female LEW rats. No immunosuppressants were used. Chimerism in donor rats was confirmed by primers specific for the sex determinant Y chromosome of rats. With livers from rats pretreated with recipient‐type BMCs, survival of liver allografts was significantly extended, irrespective of irradiation. These results showed that modification of the donor liver by intraportal injection of recipient‐type BMCs and concomitant administration of FK506 prior to liver transplantation prolonged liver allograft survival in rats.