Function of inflammatory cells and neoral cyclosporin-A in heart transplant-associated coronary vasculopathy

The role of Sandimmun Neoral(R) (S-n) and the immune response in transplant -associated coronary vasculopathy (TACV) was evaluated in a Lewis (Lew)-to- Fischer-344 (F344) rat abdominal heterotopic heart transplant model. Some o f the transplant recipients were treated with S-n (5mg/kg/day) for 14 days post-transplant, or until sacrifice. Grafts were subjected to immunohistoch emical (ED1, CD4, CD8 and alpha -actin+ cells) analysis from day 7 to 100 p ost-transplant. Singenic controls did not develop TACV, irrespective of whe ther they had received the drug or not. TACV was detected in Lew-F344 trans plants regardless of S-n administration with participation of ED1+, CD8+ an d alpha -actin+ cells, although its incidence was lower in animals receivin g prolonged S-n treatment. In this model, accelerated arteriosclerosis of t he graft appeared to be related more to the rejection effect than to the ac tion of the immunosuppressive agent.