Maximal inflammatory response benefits syngeneic skin graft acceptance

We investigated the influence of acute inflammation in skin isograft acceptance.

Two mouse lines selected for maximal (AIRMAX) or minimal inflammatory response (AIRMIN) were transplanted with syngeneic skin. Cellular infiltrates and cytokine production were measured 1, 3, 7 or 14 days post-transplantation. The percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells in the lymph nodes was also evaluated.

Grafts were totally accepted in 100% of AIRMAX and in 26% of AIRMIN mice. In the latter, partial acceptance was observed in 74% of the animals. Emigrated cells were basically PMN and were enhanced in AIRMAX transplants. IL-10 production by graft infiltrating cells showed no interline differences. IFN-gamma was increased in AIRMIN grafts at day 14 and lower percentages of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells in the lymph nodes were observed in these mice.

Our data suggest that differences in graft acceptance might be due to a lack of appropriate regulation of the inflammatory response in AIRMIN mice compromising the self/non-self recognition.