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Molecular Markers and Targeted Therapy of Skin Rejection in Composite Tissue Allotransplantation
Author(s) -
Hautz T.,
Zelger B.,
Grahammer J.,
Krapf C.,
Amberger A.,
Brandacher G.,
Landin L.,
Müller H.,
Schön M. P.,
Cavadas P.,
Lee A. W. P.,
Pratschke J.,
Margreiter R.,
Schneeberger S.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2010.03075.x
Subject(s) - medicine , allotransplantation , cd8 , transplantation , immunology , lymphocyte , cell adhesion molecule , foxp3 , cd3 , immune system , pathology
Skin rejection remains a major hurdle in reconstructive transplantation. We investigated molecular markers of skin rejection with particular attention to lymphocyte trafficking. Skin biopsies (n = 174) from five human hand transplant recipients were analyzed for rejection, characteristics of the infiltrate and lymphocytic adhesion markers. The cellular infiltrate predominantly comprised CD3+ T cells. CD68, Foxp3 and indoleamine 2, 3‐dioxygenase expression and the CD4/CD8 increased with severity of rejection. Lymphocyte adhesion markers were upregulated upon rejection, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 and E‐selectin correlated best with severity of rejection. Guided by the findings, a specific E‐ and P‐selectin inhibitor was investigated for its effect on skin rejection in a rat hind limb allotransplant model. While efomycine M (weekly s.c. injection into the graft) alone had no effect, long‐term allograft survival was achieved when combined with antithymocyte globulin and tacrolimus (control group without efomycine M rejected at postoperative day [POD] 61 ± 1). Upregulation of lymphocyte trafficking markers correlates with severity of skin rejection and time after transplantation in human hand transplantation. Blocking E‐ and P‐selectin in the skin holds potential to significantly prolong limb allograft survival.