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Updated: May 23, 2026
Reduced Complications after Arterial Reconnection in a Rat Model of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Published on: November 7, 2020
IDO-competent-DCs induced by IFN-γ attenuate acute rejection in rat liver transplantation
Xing Sun1, Zi-jun Gong, Zhao-wen Wang
1Department of Surgery, Shanghai First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, China.
Purpose:
We established a stable rat model of liver transplantation using Sprague-Dawley rats and Wistar rats in order to investigate the role of the IDO gene in acute rejection after rat liver transplantation.
Methods:
IDO gene expression and IDO enzyme activity were quantified in liver syngeneic grafts and allografts using microdialysis-HPLC. Liver allografts were evaluated for IDO expression by histopathology. We measured liver function-related biomarkers in liver allografts which were re-infused with untreated or IFN-γ-treated dendritic cells (DCs).
Results:
We found a significant increase in IDO gene expression and IDO enzyme activity in liver allografts compared the sham and syngeneic graft groups. There was a significant correlation between the number of IDO-positive cells and severity of acute rejection. IDO gene expression and enzyme activity was upregulated in the IFN-γ-treated DC group within 7 days after transplantation compared to the untreated DC group and survival rates were significantly improved.
Conclusions:
Our results suggested that IDO gene expression correlates with the severity of acute rejection and that IFN-γ-induced IDO-positive DCs may attenuate acute rejection and catalyze local tryptophan metabolism via IDO enzyme expression, leading to immune tolerance after liver transplantation.
