Effects of CTLA4-Ig gene-modified dendritic cells on the corneal allografts

In order to investigate the effects of mouse CTLA4Ig gene-modified dendritic cells (DCs) on the survival of the corneal allografts in rats, the plasmid PG\CTLA4Ig was transfected into DCs of F344 rats mediated by Lipofectamine 2000. The expression of CTLA4Ig was detected by immunofluorescent microscopy. The effects of donor DCs on the proliferation of T cells in Lewis rats (recipients) were tested by by CCK8. Corneal transplantation was performed from F344 rats to Lewis rats. The DCs modified with CTLA4Ig gene were injected into the Lewis rats on the day 0 and 3 after transplantation. The movement of the DCs after modification in vivo was observed by immunofluorescent microscopy, and the survival of corneal allografts was evaluated by Holland criterion. The results showed that the CTLA4Ig-modified DCs could restrain the proliferation of allogenetic T cells. The CTLA4Ig-modified DCs prolonged survival of corneal allografts. (P < 0.01). It was suggested that the injection of CTLA4Ig gene-modified DCs could obviously inhabit the allograft rejection and prolong the survival of corneal allografts.