Vascularized thymic lobe transplantation in miniature swine: thymopoiesis and tolerance induction across fully MHC-mismatched barriers.

ABSTRACT: As the major site of self-nonself discrimination in the immune system, the thymus, if successfully transplanted, could potentially carry with it the induction of central tolerance to any other organ or tissue from the same donor. We have recently developed a technique for transplantation of an intact, vascularized thymic lobe (VTL) in miniature swine. In the present study, we have examined the ability of such VTL allografts to support thymopoiesis and induce transplantation tolerance across fully MHC-mismatched barriers. Six miniature swine recipients received fully MHC-mismatched VTL grafts with a 12-day course of tacrolimus. Three of these recipients were thymectomized before transplantation and accepted their VTL allografts long-term, with evidence of normal thymopoiesis. In contrast, t

SUBMITTER: Kamano C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC374329 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature