OBJECTIVETo analyze the mechanisms of surrogate tolerogenesis induced by chimeric donors.

METHODSHematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from human cord blood were transplanted into fetal rats via intrauterine injection and infused into the liver of the neonatal rats to establish chimeric rat models with human HSCs. Four weeks after birth, flow cytometry was performed to analyze the percentages of human CD45 (hCD45), CD55 (hCD55) and CD59 (hCD59)-positive cells in the peripheral blood cells of the chimeric rats. The distributions of hCD55- and hCD59-positive cells in different hCD45/SSC gating regions were observed. The resistance of the peripheral blood lymphocytes to complements-mediated cytolysis was assessed by complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) test in the chimeric rats and compared with that in control rats. The correlation between CDC and the human complement-regulating proteins in the chimeric rats were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSOn hCD45/SSC gating, the percentages of hCD55- and hCD59-positive cells in hCD45-positives region were (53.69-/+18.23)% and (31.8-/+27.5)%, accounting for (2.0-/+1.32)% and (0.76-/+0.56)% of the total cell population, respectively, which were significantly lower than the cell percentages in the extensive region (t=2.71, P=0.043 and t=3.64, P=0.015). The cytolytic rate of PBLs incubated with normal human serum was (22.32-/+15.10)% in the chimeric rats, significantly lower than that in the non-chimeric rats [(60.7-/+22.65)%, t=4.16, P<0.001). In the chimeric rats, hCD55-positive cell percentage was inversely correlated in the peripheral blood karyocytes the cytolysis rate in CDC (r=-0.679, P=0.031), and positively correlated to hCD45-positive cell percentage (r=0.658, P=0.038).

CONCLUSIONThe hCD45-positives region is the cluster of chimeric human cells expressing human complement-regulating proteins. The peripheral blood lymphocytes from chimeric donor can resist the cytolysis mediated by human complement. The presence of allogenic CD55 and CD59 antigens in chimeric donors may be the basis of surrogate tolerogenesis for xenotransplantation.

Animals ; CD55 Antigens ; blood ; CD59 Antigens ; blood ; Complement System Proteins ; analysis ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; blood ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transplantation Chimera ; blood ; genetics ; immunology ; Transplantation Tolerance ; Transplantation, Heterologous

PURPOSE: Local activation of the complement system plays a role in target organ damage. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of cyclosporine (CsA)- induced renal injury on the complement system in the kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice fed a low salt (0.01%) diet were treated with vehicle (VH, olive oil, 1mL/kg/day) or CsA (30mg/kg/day) for one or four weeks. Induction of chronic CsA nephrotoxicity was evaluated with renal function and histomorphology. Activation of the complement system was assessed through analysis of the expression of C3, C4d, and membrane attack complex (MAC), and the regulatory proteins, CD46 and CD55. CsA treatment induced renal dysfunction and typical morphology (tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis) at four weeks. RESULTS: CsA-induced renal injury was associated with increased the expression of C3, C4d, and MAC (C9 and upregulation of complement regulatory proteins (CD 46 and CD55). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the activated complement components were mainly confined to the injured tubulointerstitium. CONCLUSION: CsA-induced renal injury is associated with activation of the intrarenal complement system.
Animals ; Antigens, CD45/analysis ; Antigens, CD46/analysis ; Antigens, CD55/analysis ; Complement C3/analysis ; Complement C4b/analysis ; Complement Membrane Attack Complex/analysis ; Complement System Proteins/*analysis ; Cyclosporine/*toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Immunity, Innate/drug effects ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunosuppressive Agents/toxicity ; Kidney/*drug effects/immunology/pathology ; Kidney Diseases/*chemically induced/immunology ; Mice ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Peptide Fragments/analysis