INDUCTION OF CHRONIC GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE IN A RAT MODEL AFTER TRANSPLANTATION OF SENSITIZED SMALL-BOWEL ALLOGRAFTS

The recent success in controlling acute rejection in clinical small bo wel transplantation has resulted in a number of patients with function ing grafts and an occasional occurrence of graft-versus-host disease ( GVHD). To better understand this complication following small bowel tr ansplantation, a model of chronic GVHD was developed, using the Brown Norway --> Lewis rat strain combination. When the Lewis recipients wer e immunocompromised at the time of transplantation and received a graf t specifically sensitized against Lewis, fatal GVHD developed in 3 of 5 animals. Serial histologic evaluation and determination of donor maj or histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens were used to deli neate the course of GVHD. Although the histologic results were inconsi stent, with the exception of the animals developing fatal GVHD, the de tection of donor MHC antigens correlated well with the development of GVHD. Determination of donor MHC class I antigens may serve as useful indicators for the development of GVHD.