Prolongation of skin allograft survival in rats by the transplantation of microencapsulated xenogeneic neonatal porcine Sertoli cells

Biomaterials. 2012 Jul;33(21):5333-40. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.04.020. Epub 2012 May 3.

Abstract

Skin rejection remains a major hurdle in skin reconstructive transplantation surgery. In fact, 85% of the grafted patients experience at least one episode of acute skin rejection in the first year. It has been observed that Sertoli cells (SC), when co-transplanted with allo- or xenogeneic cell/tissues, can induce graft acceptance in the absence of systemic immunosuppression. A method aimed at significantly prolonging skin allografts in rats transplanted with barium alginate-based microencapsulated xenogeneic porcine SC (SC-MCs) is described. Results demonstrated that intraperitoneal (IP) transplantation of SC-MCs with high cellular viability and function can significantly prolong allogeneic skin grafts when compared to transplantation controls receiving only empty alginate capsules (E-MCs). Lymphocytic infiltration at the skin graft site was not observed in 80% of the SC-MCs transplanted rats and these recipient animals showed a significant increased expression of T regulatory (Tregs) cells when compared to E-MCs transplantation controls. The findings of this report further substantiate the positive therapeutic effects of SC on transplantation technology mediated by Sertoli cell-induced alterations of the host's immune system and indicate new perspectives and new strategies for successful skin tissue allografts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Capsules
  • Cell Separation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Compounding / methods*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Graft Survival / immunology*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Long-Evans
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sertoli Cells / cytology
  • Sertoli Cells / transplantation*
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Transplantation / immunology*
  • Sus scrofa
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Capsules
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, rat
  • RNA, Messenger