A gelatin sponge implantation model in swine for the determination of local immune reactions

For in vivo determination of innate and memory immune reactions we have imp lanted sterile gelatin sponges subcutaneously in swine for the monitoring o f the following immunological parameters: 1. Analysis of local cell population phenotypes after vascularization of th e gelatin sponges using flow cytometry. 2. Comparative analysis of sponge-infiltrating cells after loading with vir al antigen in primed as well as naive animals. 3. Performance of reverse transcription quantitative competitive PCR (RT-qc PCR) for the detection of porcine cytokine mRNA indicative for IFN-gamma, I L-2, IL-4, IL-8 and IL-10. The in vitro analysis, e. g. by re-exposure to viral antigens, allows the d etermination of cytokine reaction patterns of sponge derived cells, drainin g lymph node cells as well as PBMC of the same individual. Studies of innat e reactions and modulation of cellular infiltration in transplanted gelatin sponges are possible. Functional assays, e. g. cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antigen specific cell proliferation, usings sponge-derived cells will prov ide additional information about the suitability of the model for example i n vaccine potency tests.