Direct Impact of Human Platelets on the Development of Transplant Arteriosclerosis.

Background: Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and proliferative vascular changes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether human platelets are able to induce transplant arteriosclerosis in a humanized C57/Bl6-Rag2-/-γc-/- mouse xenograft model.

Methods: Nonactivated and in vitro-activated human platelets were analyzed and phenotyped for surface markers by flow cytometry.

Preservation of Microvascular Integrity in Murine Orthotopic Tracheal Allografts by Clopidogrel.

Background: Survival after lung transplantation is mainly limited by the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). The aim of this study was to investigate if platelet inhibition by clopidogrel has a functionally relevant influence on the microvascular integrity of orthotopic tracheal allografts as an anatomic basis for the development of CLAD.

Methods: We orthotopically transplanted C57Bl/6 (H-2) tracheas into CBA.