Long-term in vivo effects of rapamycin on humoral and cellular immune responses in the rat.
Immunobiology
; 188(3): 303-15, 1993 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-8225391
ABSTRACT
Rapamycin (RAPA) is a strong immunosuppressant and is able to prevent allograft rejection in animal models. We have demonstrated that RAPA could strongly inhibit in vitro immunoglobulin (Ig) production by human lymphocytes. The present study investigated the long-term in vivo effect of RAPA on humoral and cellular immune responses, and the effect of RAPA on accelerated rejection. It was shown that RAPA strongly inhibited antigen (Ag) specific antibody (AB) production (i.e. cytotoxic Ab to donor lymphocytes and Ab to tetanus toxoid) during the period of drug administration. The accelerated rejection of cardiac allografts in presensitized animals was alleviated by RAPA administration. These results suggest the potential application of RAPA in treatment of presensitized candidates for organ transplantation. A little more than two months after the drug withdrawal, the rats were basically competent in Ab response to further Ag challenges. When tested 4 months after the RAPA-treatment, the rats showed uncompromised cardiac allograft rejection, and the cellular immune response in vitro according to mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and mitogen-stimulated proliferation were not hampered. Such results suggest that the immune system can return to normal status without sequelae after discontinuation of RAPA.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Polyenes
/
Immunoglobulin G
/
Graft Rejection
/
Immunosuppressive Agents
Type of study:
Observational_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Immunobiology
Year:
1993
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada