Incidence of graft rejection in small bowel transplanted pigs after immunosuppression withdrawal.

As intestinal grafts require heavy immunosuppression, there are no reports of immunosuppression withdrawal after clinical small bowel transplantation. In this large-animal study, we investigated the occurrence of graft rejection in intestinal-transplanted pigs after withdrawal. Large-White unrelated piglets were transplanted and divided in three groups: group 1 (n = 5), intestinal transplantation (ITx) with no immunosuppression; group 2 (n = 7), Itx and 60 days of treatment with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil; group 3 (n = 5), Itx and donor bone marrow infusion (DBMi) and 60 days of treatment with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil.

FK778 and tacrolimus combination therapy to control acute rejection after pig intestinal transplantation.

Malononitrilamide 715 (FK778) is a new class of low molecular weight immunosuppressant. Experimental studies in heart, liver, and kidney transplantation have shown a strong synergism when FK778 is used in combination with tacrolimus and when its administration is delayed by 7 days after the transplant. Following this indication, in a swine model of orthotopic small bowel transplantation (SBT), we assessed the efficacy of combined low dose tacrolimus and FK778 administered from day 0 or day 7.

Efficacy of malononitrilamide FK778 in a preclinical model of small bowel transplantation.

In a swine model of orthotopic small bowel transplantation, we assessed the efficacy of combined immunosuppressive therapy with low-dose tacrolimus plus FK778, compared with high-dose tacrolimus monotherapy. The small bowel was replaced in 23 piglets: group 1 (n = 5), no immunosuppression; group 2 (n = 12), oral tacrolimus to maintain whole blood trough levels between 15 and 25 ng/mL; and group 3 (n = 6), oral FK778 4 mg/kg/d, plus oral tacrolimus to maintain whole blood trough levels between 5 and 15 ng/mL. Follow-up time was limited to 60 days.

[Experimental kidney transplantation: a comparison between different models].

Aim: Two different models of kidney transplantation have been compared using 3 different techniques. The kidney grafts were procured from living donors (laparoscopic or laparotomic technique) and from cadaveric donors.

Methods: Twenty-four outbred piglets (Large White, weight range 24-27 kg) underwent kidney transplantation.

The influence of surgery, immunosuppressive drugs, and rejection, on graft function after small bowel transplantation: a large-animal study.

In this study we assessed functional changes (motility and absorption) of intestinal allografts in a large-animal model of orthotopic small bowel transplantation in swine. Studies were performed on non-rejecting animals in the early and late stages after transplantation and after induction of different grades of acute rejection. Immunosuppression consisted of oral FK506 and mycophenolate mofetil.