M-CSF SEROUS RATE EVOLUTION DURING POSTTRANSPLANTATION DAYS IN A HETEROTOPIC HEART GRAFT MODEL MICE

Background. On heterotopic heart graft in mice, aged 7 weeks (C3H and B57), we investigate the variations of Macrophage Colony stimulating f actor serous rate, The macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) is a cytokine involved in the immune response during transplantation. Me thods. Five groups were determined, group 1 with a heterotopic transpl ant without immunosuppressive treatment (N=24); group 2 with a heterot opic transplant and Corticoid treatment after the graft (N=29); group 3 with a heterotopic transplant and cyclosporine treatment after the g raft (N=34); group 4 with an isogenic transplant (N=31) and group 5 un dergoing a laparotomy (N=31). The cilice are sacrificed at D4, D7, D10 or D14 and the M-CSF dosage are done by ELISA method. Results. The se rous rate of M-CSF is stable in the group with an isogenic transplant or with only a laparotomy. But in the group with a heterotopic transpl ant the M-CSF values increase (x1.5). If we use an immunosuppressive t reatment the raising of M-CSF is less important. When we have a reject ion graft, the serous rate of M-CSF increases but not significantly (M ann-Whitney test). Conclusions. We conclude M-CSF seems to be a reliab le index of disorder during immune response, but is not a good marker of the rejection.