Ex vivo perfusion of canine pancreaticoduodenal allografts using class-II-specific monoclonal antibody delays the onset of acute rejection

In the following study, we investigated whether ex vivo perfusion of canine pancreaticoduodenal allografts prior to transplantation using a class-II-specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb) OKIa1) could prevent acute rejection. Untreated grafts were rejected within 6 days after transplantation, and all of these recipients suffered severe hyperglycemia. In contrast, in recipients who received grafts which underwent ex vivo class-II-specific MoAb perfusion treatment, the mean urinary amylase levels were sustained significantly higher (11733 ±4493 vs. 3274 ± 2108 U/L on day 7, P < 0.005), and mean fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels remained within the normal range (13.4 ± 5.8 vs. 23.4 ± 3.9 mM on day 7, P < 0.0005). Low doses of cyclosporin A (CsA) were necessary in order to maintain lower FBG levels. Histopathology analysis on day 7 after transplantation showed that endotheliitis and necrosis were much less prominent in the MoAb-treated grafts. In the light of our results, we conclude that ex vivo perfusion of canine pancreaticoduodenal allografts using a class-II-specific MoAb is effective in delaying the onset of acute rejection, and low doses of CsA could extend this effect.