Leukotrienes in renal transplant rejection in rats. Distinct roles for leukotriene B4 and peptidoleukotrienes in the pathogenesis of allograft injury

J Immunol. 1994 Jan 15;152(2):867-76.

Abstract

To investigate the role of leukotrienes in renal allograft rejection, we studied the effects of specific leukotriene inhibitors in a rat kidney transplant model. The enhanced renal production of leukotrienes observed in allograft recipients was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by the specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor MK886. This suppression of leukotriene production caused a substantial improvement in renal function. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase also reduced the severity of vascular inflammation and endothelial injury in allografts, and profoundly inhibited expression of donor MHC class II Ag on kidney cells. Survival of renal allograft recipients was prolonged from 10 +/- 1 days in controls to 16 +/- 1 days in animals that received a 6-day course of MK886 (p < 0.05). To investigate the relative roles of LTB4 compared to peptidoleukotrienes in these processes, we treated a separate group of animals with the specific peptidoleukotriene receptor antagonist SKF106203. This agent inhibits the interaction of peptidoleukotrienes with their receptor(s) but does not affect the biologic actions of LTB4. In these studies, SKF106203 caused a modest improvement in renal allograft function that was of lesser magnitude than that seen with the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. SKF106203 also reduced vascular inflammation in allografts, but had no effect on expression of MHC class II Ag. We conclude that leukotrienes play a key role in the pathogenesis of renal allograft rejection. Furthermore, the detrimental effects of leukotrienes in rejection are mediated by distinct actions of LTB4 and peptidoleukotrienes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dicarboxylic Acids / pharmacology
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Graft Rejection
  • Graft Survival
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Kidney / blood supply
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology*
  • Kidney Transplantation / pathology
  • Leukotriene Antagonists*
  • Leukotriene B4 / physiology*
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Regional Blood Flow

Substances

  • Dicarboxylic Acids
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Indoles
  • Leukotriene Antagonists
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors
  • MK-886
  • SK&F S-106203
  • Leukotriene B4