Experimental Study on skeletal Tissue allotransplant

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Chimerism following allogeneic organ transplantation may be a mechanism for induction of donor-specific graft acceptance. However, little is known about graft cell migration following skeletal tissue allograft. Our study investigated a cell exchange phenomenon following whole-limb allotransplantation. Experimental animals were DA rats and Lewis rats and right hind-limbs were orthotopically transplanted in sex-mismatched pairs. FK506 (Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Osaka, Japan) was administered after transplantation for immunosuppression. Chimerism was assessed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction for the Y-chromosome. Our results indicated that 1) Y-chromosome didn't behave as male specific minor antigen in whole limb allograft, although it worked as antigen in skin grafts 2) function of transplanted limb was roughly recovered 70% compared to normal side, 3) donor cells survived in the graft through 1 year after transplantation and gradually migrated into recipient's lymphoid tissue and bones, 4) donor cells in the grafted limb (involving bone, muscle and skin tissues) were gradually replaced by recipient's cells. Our study demonstrated stable and high level chimerism following limb allotransplantation.