G. Selvaggi et al., LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION WITHOUT IMMUNOSUPPRESSION - FUTURE PERSPECTIVES, The Italian Journal of Gastroenterology, 28(4), 1996, pp. 246-249
It has been hypothesized that a state of microchimerism in recipients
of organ transplants may result in donor-specific tolerance to the gra
ft, Numerous studies show that infusion of donor-derived bone marrow c
ells can, indeed, achieve systemic chimerism in the recipient and effe
ctively prolong allograft survival, We have compared organ and patient
survival in recipients of liver allografts alone (controls) or in com
bination with single or multiple infusions of donor bone marrow cells;
recipients were infused either at day 0 (perioperatively) or at day 0
and 11 post-transplant, The incidence of rejection episodes and survi
val of the liver allograft were significantly reduced in recipients of
two bone marrow infusions compared to controls; recipients of one inf
usion, conversely, experienced a higher number of rejection episodes w
hen compared to controls, pointing to a possible sensitizing role of a
single bone marrow infusion if administered perioperatively. Variable
s such as timing, number and composition of the bone marrow inocula st
ill remain to be elucidated but may be of critical importance for the
attainment of a state of donor-specific tolerance without the need for
immunosuppressive therapy in recipients of organ allografts.