T Cells from Presensitized Donors Fail to Cause Graft-versus-Host Disease in a Pig-to-Mouse Xenotransplantation Model

Abstract

These results demonstrate that porcine T-cell function is severely impaired in the xenogeneic murine microenvironment.

Letters to the Editor

“…The cells released from the spleen were different in phenotype from those after BM Tx, which correlated well with the phenotypes of hematopoietic stem cells identified in naı¨ve spleens and BM [9]. A relatively large population of CD3 þ T cells was detected after spleen Tx, but no features of graft-vs.-host disease were observed during follow-up, an observation that correlates well with that of Eguchi et al in the pig-to-mouse model [10]. The adult pig spleen is a relatively rich source of hematopoietic progenitor cells [9].…”

Evaluation of the tolerogenic effects of donor bone marrow cells using a severe combined immunodeficient mouse–human islet transplant model

“…However, very few of these studies have been able to avoid the development of xenogeneic GvHD consequent to the human PBL reconstitution, thus limiting their usefulness to short term immune assays. We have overcome this limitation by the use of human PBL that are pre-activated with donor irradiated cells for the reconstitution of the NOD-SCID mice instead of naïve cells which were reported to be the cause of GvH [37–39]. Although such an experimental system can be used for a number of applications including studies on the islet metabolism, graft rejection and tolerance induction protocols, our own studies were geared towards the evaluation of immune regulation by donor bone marrow cell infusions.…”

The pig‐to‐primate immune response: relevance for xenotransplantation

“…The results of a study in the pig-to-mouse model by Eguchi et al [27] are of interest. In an investigation to determine whether porcine T cells could cause GVH disease after Tx, this group sensitized pigs to murine antigens by skin grafting boosted by injection of mouse cells.…”