PDIA3 mRNA expression and IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and CRP levels of acute kidney allograft rejection in rat

The synergism of B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) attenuated acute T-cell mediated rejection and prolonged renal graft survival

Background

Acute T-cell mediated rejection (TCMR) continues to be a major problem in the area of kidney transplantation. The B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) were recently found costimulatory molecules. The research aims to explore the inhibitory synergism of BTLA and CTLA-4 in TCMR.

Methods

We investigated the suppressive role of overexpressed BTLA and CTLA-4 in vitro. The rat kidney transplantation model was established to explore the effect of combined overexpressed BTLA and CTLA-4 in recipients of kidney transplantation. The grafts and peripheral blood were harvested for renal function, histology, immunohistochemical and flow cytometry analysis.

Results

Combination therapy decreased the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and proliferation of T cells compared to the single therapy and the control group. Decrease of interstitium monocyte infiltration and especially intimal arteritis in the graft was observed with the combination therapy, with remarkable reduction of numbers and proliferation response of T cells in peripheral blood and grafts. Combined overexpressed BTLA and CTLA-4 attenuated the acute TCMR after kidney transplantation and improved the graft function and prolonged the graft survival. The inhibiting role against TCMR in the combination therapy group was more effective than single therapy.

Conclusions

The synergism of BTLA and CTLA-4 attenuated acute TCMR after kidney transplantation by suppressing T cell activation and proliferation.

Gene silencing of 4-1BB by RNA interference inhibits acute rejection in rats with liver transplantation

The 4-1BB signal pathway plays a key role in organ transplantation tolerance. In this study, we have investigated the effect of gene silencing of 4-1BB by RNA interference (RNAi) on the acute rejection in rats with liver transplantation. The recombination vector of lentivirus that contains shRNA targeting the 4-1BB gene (LV-sh4-1BB) was constructed. The liver transplantation was performed using the two-cuff technique. Brown-Norway (BN) recipient rats were infected by the recombinant LVs. The results showed that gene silencing of 4-1BB by RNAi downregulated the 4-1BB gene expression of the splenic lymphocytes in vitro, and the splenic lymphocytes isolated from the rats with liver transplantation. LV-sh4-1BB decreased the plasma levels of liver injury markers including AST, ALT, and BIL and also decreased the level of plasma IL-2 and IFN-γ in recipient rats with liver transplantation. Lentivirus-mediated delivery of shRNA targeting 4-1BB gene prolonged the survival time of recipient and alleviated the injury of liver morphology in recipient rats with liver transplantation. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that gene silencing of 4-1BB by RNA interference inhibits the acute rejection in rats with liver transplantation.