Title: Prevention of hyperacute rejection of pig-to-monkey cardiac xenografts by depletion of complement
Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy of cobra venom factor (CVF) in preventing hyperacute rejection (HAR) after pig to monkey heart xenotransplantation.Methods Heterotopic xenogeneic heart transplantation in the abdominal cavity was performed using piglets as donors. Nine monkeys (macaca mulatta) were used as recipients and were immunosuppressed with a combination of cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, and steroids. Complete complement depletion was achieved in 4 of the recipients with CVF. In control group, 5 monkeys were not treated with CVF. All recipients underwent regular blood sampling for C3, C4 levels and complement activity. The xenografts were excised for histopathological examination when no myocardial contractions could be seen or felt. Results In 4 recipients receiving CVF therapy, C3 was completely depleted and no side effect due to CVF was found. The pig hearts'survival ranged from 8 to 13 days, with an average survival of 11 days. The grafts showed histopathologic features of delayed xenograft rejection (DXR). But in control group, 3 of 5 pig hearts were hyperacutely rejected after 15 to 60 min, and the remaining 2 survived for 22 h and 6 days respectively.Conclusion The CVF used showed an excellent effect to deplete complement completely and no obvious toxic effect could be seen. CVF prevented HAR after discordant xenotransplantation. Not all control hearts underwent HAR.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot