Background: The success of lung transplantation has been limited by the perplexing problem of chronic rejection. The development of a large-animal model for the systematic study of the mechanisms underlying chronic lung rejection has been problematic. We have developed a new preclinical model of chronic lung rejection using MHC-inbred miniature swine.
Methods: Using standard operative techniques, four orthotopic left lung allografts were performed using MHC-matched, minor-antigen-mismatched donors. Recipient animals received a 12-day course of postoperative cyclosporine. Grafts were followed with open biopsies and high-resolution computed tomography. Cellular immune responses were monitored by mixed lymphocyte reaction, cytometric analysis of graft-infiltrating lymphocytes, and skin grafting.
Results: All grafts survived > or = 5 months and developed manifestations of chronic rejection, including obliterative bronchiolitis, interstitial fibrosis, and occlusive vasculopathy. A mononuclear infiltrate was also present in all grafts by the fourth posttransplant month. High-resolution computed tomography demonstrated several cardinal radiographic findings known to correlate with chronic rejection. Cytometric analysis of graft-infiltrating lymphocytes showed a predominance of CD8+ cells. The development of alloreactivity in the host was confirmed by mixed lymphocyte reaction and skin grafting.
Conclusions: We report a reproducible, whole-lung, large-animal model of chronic lung rejection. In this immunogenetically defined construct, we have observed a full spectrum of histopathologic lesions that reproduce with fidelity those lesions observed in human lung transplant recipients suffering from chronic rejection. We anticipate that this preclinical model will facilitate further study of the pathogenesis and therapy of chronic lung rejection.