Intragraft CD45 RO gene expression is an early marker to detect small bowel allograft rejection in rats

Wistar Furth (WF) intestinal allografts were transplanted into Sprague-Dawl ey (SD) rats. Recipients were randomly allocated into the following groups: (1) no treatment; (2) cyclosporine (CsA) 6 mg/kg/day, daily, subcutaneousl y (s.c.; full-dose therapy); (3) CsA 3 mg/kg/day, daily, s.c. (half-dose th erapy); and (4) CsA 3 mg/kg/day, daily, s.c. + Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook, WF (TW) 3 mg/kg/day, daily, s.c. WF rats with intestinal autografts were u sed as controls. CD45RO intragraft expression and its index (CD45RO/CD45), measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), were significantly elevated in untreated and half-dose CsA-treated allografts as early as postoperative day (POD) 4, when rejection of intestinal allograft s was not detected by routine pathology, Intestinal permeability measured b y Tc-DTPA radioassay was significantly elevated in untreated allografts on POD 6, Histology showed that there was severe rejection in untreated intest inal allografts and mild rejection in allografts treated with a half dose o f CsA on POD 6, There was a normal CD45RO expression, permeability, and his tology in intestinal allografts treated with either a full dose of CsA or a half dose of CsA + TW, These data indicate that CD45RO intragraft gene exp ression is an early marker to detect intestinal allograft rejection in rats . (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.