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Development of Obliterative Bronchiolitis in a Murine Model of Orthotopic Lung Transplantation
Published on: July 10, 2012
Inhaled nitric oxide does not increase rat pulmonary allograft rejection
T Shiraishi1, K Kawahara, T Shirakusa
1Second Department of Surgery (General Thoracic Surgery), Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Japan.
Summary
Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) did not significantly impact acute allograft rejection in a rat lung transplant model. This study suggests inhaled NO has minimal clinical relevance for preventing post-transplant rejection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Inducible nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in allograft rejection.
- Inhaled NO (INO) is used for post-lung transplant dysfunction.
- The opposing actions of inducible and inhaled NO raise concerns about INO's effect on acute rejection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of inhaled NO (INO) on acute allograft rejection in a rat pulmonary allograft model.
- To determine if INO exacerbates or mitigates acute rejection following lung transplantation.
Main Methods:
- Lewis rats underwent left lung allotransplantation into F344 recipients.
- Animals inhaled either room air or 20 ppm NO post-transplant.
- Serum NO2-/NO3- levels monitored NO uptake; radiographic and histological scores assessed acute rejection.
Main Results:
- The inhaled NO group showed significantly elevated serum NO2-/NO3- levels on days 7 and 14.
- No significant positive effect of inhaled NO on acute rejection was observed radiographically.
- Histological evaluation also revealed no beneficial impact of inhaled NO on allograft rejection.
Conclusions:
- Inhaled NO demonstrated no significant effect on acute allograft rejection in this rat model.
- The impact of inhaled NO on acute rejection appears to be clinically insignificant.
