Objective: To examine the inhibitory action of the injection of TGF-beta1 gene modified donor dendritic cells (TGF-beta1-DC) on the immune repulsion in rat liver transplantation and detect the related mechanism.
Methods: The recombinant TGF-beta1-pcDNA3 adenovirus transfected Wistar DCs were injected into the tail vein of the recipient SD rat. One week later, the rat immune repulsion model of liver transplantation was set up, the expression of TGF-beta1 gene was identified, and the survival was observed and recorded. The NF-kappaB activity and cell factor TNF of T cells in recipient spleen and Kupffer cells were detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and immunohistochemistry respectively. The pathological rejection index after transplantation was assayed.
Results: The rejection index was decreased and the survival time was prolonged in Ad-TGF-beta1-DC group as compared with those in control groups. Also it was found that TGF-beta1-DC injection inhibited the expression of NF-kappaB and TNF of T cells and Kupffer cells in rat liver allografts, and all differences were statistically significant.
Conclusion: TGF-beta1 gene modified DC could obviously inhibit the activation of T cells and Kupffer cells, enhance the tolerogenicity of liver transplantation and prolong survival time.