Antibody Response of Autogenous Splenic Tissue Implanted in the Abdominal Cavity of Mice

Abstract

There is still controversy about the immunologic function of autotransplanted splenic tissue. In this study, splenic autotransplantation was performed in the abdominal cavity of mice, and the plaqueforming cell (PFC) assay was used to investigate the frequency of antibody-forming cells in response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) immunization. BALB/c mice were divided into four groups according to the location of the autogenous graft: intraomental (IO), free peritoneal splenosis (FPS), retroperitoneal (RP), and nongrafted control (CT). Thirty days after surgery the mice were immunized intraperitoneally with SRBCs, and 4 days later splenic immunoglobulin M anti-SRBC-secreting cells were determined by counting the number of PFCs. All the immunized mice showed increased numbers of PFCs that were about 2 logs higher than those in the the nonimmunized controls (P < 0.005). The frequencies of anti-SRBC-producing cells in the tissues grafted in various sites of the abdominal cavity (IO, FPS, RP), in the normal spleen from nonoperated controls (CT), or in the sham-operated control group (SCT) were not notably different (5582 -2475 PFC/10 7 cells for IO; 4849 -1856 for FPS; 6604 -2903 for RP; 5940 -5029 for CT; and 6172 -2203 for SCT). Similar histology with small architectural variations was observed in all implants; less white pulp was involved, and there was more congestion in the red pulp, with extensive sinusoids and reticular fiber proliferation. This study shows that the T cell-dependent antibody response in implanted splenic tissues is as efficient as in the intact spleen, with no difference between the graft sites studied. This immune response does not depend on the slight architectural variations observed in the splenic implants.T he importance of the splenic autotransplant technique is justified by the high incidence of total splenectomy, the spleen being the most affected organ during blunt trauma as well as highly susceptible to iatrogenic incidents. 1,2 Since the nineteenth century splenectomy has been the treatment advised after splenic trauma, although current studies indicate that this procedure is not exempt from complications.

Splenectomy Increases Atherosclerotic Lesions in Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice

“…However, because the spleen is the organ most affected in closed abdominal trauma, and because the conservation techniques are not widely known, the incidence of total splenectomy is still rising. In addition, the partial or total mending of the spleen in its anatomical site was always considered difficult [1,6].…”

“…Because of the growing recognition of its importance, splenic preservation is becoming more desirable in the treatment of splenic injuries [5,6]. Several techniques that preserve the integral or partial spleen have been described, such as splenorrhaphy, partial splenectomy, subtotal splenectomy, arterial ligatures, application of hemostatic agents, and splenic implants [7,8].…”

Auto-Transplantation of Splenic Fragments After Total Splenectomy in Patients with Severe Splenic Trauma Lesions: A Clinical Study

“…Many experimental studies have shown that animals that had underwent autotransplantation of splenic fragments experienced less infections in comparison to those that underwent total splenectomy alone (8,12). However, it should be stressed that the mere presence of splenic tissue as auto-transplantation does not necessarily imply normal immune function and that infection rates in the group with healthy normal spleens is significantly lower than the group in which total splenectomy and autotransplantation of splenic fragments was performed (13).…”

Splenic autotransplantation reverses interferon‐gamma and nitric oxide production and resistance to Listeria monocytogenes in splenectomized mice

“…Autogenous transplantation of splenic tissue is an alternative for preservation of splenic functions when total splenectomy is inevitable (5). In this work, SP animals presented greater capacity for controlling infection by L. monocytogenes than animals in the CT and AT groups.…”

“…In order to maintain functions of the spleen when total splenectomy is inevitable, methods such as autogenous grafting of the spleen (5–7) have been used to preserve splenic tissue. Implantation of splenic fragments in different sites in the abdomen is based on splenosis and is not a novel practice (8).…”