Cutaneous leukocyte lineages in tolerant large animal and immunosuppressed clinical vascularized composite allograft recipients.

ABSTRACT: Vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) can restore fully functional anatomic units in patients with limb amputations or severe facial tissue loss. However, acute rejection of the skin is frequently observed and underscores the importance of developing tolerance induction protocols. In this study, we have characterized the skin immune system in VCAs. We demonstrate infiltration of recipient leukocytes, regardless of rejection status, and in tolerant mixed hematopoietic chimeras, the co-existence of these cells with donor leukocytes in the absence of rejection. Here we characterize the dermal T cell and epidermal Langerhans cell components of the skin immune system in our porcine model of VCA tolerance, and the kinetics of cutaneous chimerism in both of these populations in VCAs transplant

SUBMITTER: Leonard DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7854956 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature