Z.K. Chen

The liver mediates apoptotic cell-induced immune regulation.

Allogeneic apoptotic cells have been demonstrated to induce allograft tolerance, but the mechanisms for this remain unclear. The study presented here investigates organs in which the tolerogenic immune responses may occur. Distribution of live or apoptotic CFSE+ splenocytes in recipients’ organs and phagocytosis by liver antigen‐presenting cells (APC) were investigated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, and cytokine expression was analysed by Multiplex and ELISA. It was found that allogeneic or autogenic apoptotic cells preferentially accumulated in the liver within 30 min, peaked at 60 min, and disappeared at 12 h after infusion, whereas these cells scarcely appeared in the spleen. The accumulation in the liver was apoptotic cell‐specific as both allogeneic and autogenic live splenocytes were completely deposited in the spleen. Liver phagocytes, including Kupffer cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and dendritic cells, all efficiently phagocytized apoptotic cells in vitro and in vivo. Although a Th1 cytokine profile found both in the spleen and liver in the recipients of allogeneic apoptotic cells, a rapid and consistent Th2 cytokine profile specifically was initiated in the liver. From this, we conclude that liver APC phagocytize donor apoptotic cells and induce liver‐specific Th2 cytokines, which may contribute to the mechanisms of allograft tolerance induced by donor apoptotic cells.

Pretreatment with FTY720 alone induced long-term survival of mouse heart allograft

THE SUCCESS of the organ transplantation in the past 50 years is closely linked with the development of immunosuppressants. At present, adequate immunosuppression is commonly achieved with combined use of immunosuppressive agents to minimize the side-effects of any single drug while obtaining efficient overall immunosuppression by targeting multiple steps in T-cell activation. FTY720, a novel immunosuppressant, has completely different chemical structure and mechanism from conventional immunosuppressants. We evaluated the potential of FTY720 monotherapy on prolonging mouse heart allografts using different protocol of administration.

Classic orthotopic liver transplantation without venovenous bypass: a report of 45 cases

THE CLASSIC orthotopic liver transplantation with venovenous bypass has both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include maintaining the balance of the internal environment, relieving gastrointestinal congestion, decreasing blood loss, and protecting of bypass renal function during the anhepatic period. Disadvantages include the amount of time consumed, expensive cost, blood cell destruction, and complications to the blood vessels used for bypass. This article reviews the experience in 45 cases of classic orthotopic liver transplantation without venovenous bypass.