Influence of 15-deoxyspergualin on activated lymphocytes: Comparison of heart and renal rat transplantation models

Background. Among the immunological effects of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG), its action on activated T lymphocytes with the interleukin 2 receptor (IL- 2R) is controversial. Materials and methods. To investigate this action, we used rat heart and rat renal transplantation models in which Brown Norway rats (BN) served as the organ donors and Lewis rats (LEW) as the organ recipients. DSG was administered intraperitoneally to the recipients immediately after the operation. The percentage of IL-2R-positive cells and of CD4- and CD8-positive cells in the recipient spleen or allograft was evaluated. Results. The average survival period (days) of the BN heart or renal allograft in hosts treated with DSG was significantly longer than that in the untreated hosts. In the heart transplantation model, DSG decreased the percentage of IL-2R-positive cells and increased the CD4/CD8 ratio in the allograft. By contrast, in the renal transplantation model, DSG suppressed the percentage of IL-2R-positive cells in the spleen, but influenced neither the percentage of IL-2R-positive cells nor the CD4/CD8 ratio in the allograft. Conclusion. DSG extended allograft survival significantly in both heart and renal transplantation models. However, the influence of DSG on IL- 2R-positive cells may be different in the two types of allografts.