Increased LFA-1 expression in intestines of rats with GVHD after small bowel transplantation.

Experimental graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) causes immune-mediated intestinal injury. The adhesion molecule lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) is involved in leukocyte homing to areas of inflammatory injury. Our hypothesis was that LFA-1 is increased in the GVHD injured small bowel and colon.

Increased intestinal permeability in rats with graft versus host disease.

Background/aims: The study of graft versus host disease of the intestine has significant clinical relevance and may also be a model for other immune mediated intestinal diseases. There presently is no simple non-invasive test that can be used to evaluate graft versus host disease induced intestinal injury in humans or animal models. This study tested the hypothesis that graft versus host disease leads to an increase in host bowel permeability as assessed by the relative urinary excretion of orally administered lactulose and rhamnose.

Graft-versus-host disease after small bowel transplantation is associated with host colonic injury.

The present studies were undertaken to evaluate the histologic effects of graft-versus-host disease on the host colon after small bowel transplantation. Graft-versus-host disease was produced in six Lewis x Brown Norway F1 rats by performing vascularized, out-of-continuity small bowel transplants from parental Lewis donors. Host proximal and distal colon were sampled 14 days after operation when signs of graft-versus-host disease, including weight loss and splenomegaly, were present.

The association between PGE2 activity and mucosal permeability in proximal small bowel.

Little is known about the ontogeny of cyclooxygenase activity and synthesis of prostaglandins in the developing gastrointestinal tract. We tested the hypothesis that an age-related increase in cyclooxygenase as reflected in production of PGE2 in the proximal small bowel (PSB) is associated with the maturation of the mucosal barrier as determined by 51Cr-EDTA permeability. Cyclooxygenase activity in PSB of rats at 10, 22, 36, and 63 (adult) days of age was determined by the generation of PGE2 using specific radioimmunoassay.