Objective: To compare the effects of different donor-specific antigens, through different pathways, on the inducement of immunological tolerance.
Methods: After the establishment of a stable rat cervical heterotopic heart transplantation model, donor specific transfusion (DST), donor specific spolenocyte (DSSL) and donor specific bone marrow (DSBM) were given to recipients 3-14 days prior to the transplantation through peripheral vein, portal vein and intrathymic injection respectively. Low dose CsA 5 mg/(kg.d) was given from the 3rd-14th day pre-transplantation to the 28th day post-transplantation. The survival time of cardiac grafts was monitored, meanwhile, the donor specific mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and the subsets of T lymphocytes CD8+ were determined.
Results: DSBM and the administrative pathway of intrathymic injection achieved the best effects on the inducement of immunological tolerance and the improvement of graft survival.
Conclusion: The donor specific antigens can induce the donor-specific immunological tolerance. It may be a practicable approach for the clinical experiments in the future.