TY - JOUR
T1 - The fate of schwann cells in peripheral nerve allografts
AU - Midha, Rajiv
AU - Mackinnon, Susan E.
AU - Becker, Laurence E.
PY - 1994/5
Y1 - 1994/5
N2 - The phenotype of Schwann cells, whether of host or donor origin, in nerve allografts has been a source of debate. The origin of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve allografts under conditions of no, temporary or continuous immunosuppression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. We hypothesized that host-derived Schwann cells would replace rejected foreign donor Schwann cells after withdrawal of immunosuppression. A murine model of nerve transplantation to normal (wild-type) hosts from donor Shiverer mice, a mutant whose Schwann cells are deficient in myelin basic protein, was used and antibody reactivity against myelin basic protein was employed to ascertain the identity of Schwann cells in the nerve allograft. Without immunosuppression, donor Shiverer Schwann cells were rejected and the nerve graft morphology was restored by host-derived Schwann cells. With continuous immunosuppression, donor Shiverer Schwann cells persisted in the graft segment, associated with a chronic rejection phenomenon. The latter allowed migration of host-derived Schwann cells, over time, into the graft segment in approximately half the cases. After withdrawal of finite (6 weeks) immunosuppression, a rejection response eliminated donor Schwann cells. Replacement by host Schwann cells ensued as was hypothesized.
AB - The phenotype of Schwann cells, whether of host or donor origin, in nerve allografts has been a source of debate. The origin of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve allografts under conditions of no, temporary or continuous immunosuppression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. We hypothesized that host-derived Schwann cells would replace rejected foreign donor Schwann cells after withdrawal of immunosuppression. A murine model of nerve transplantation to normal (wild-type) hosts from donor Shiverer mice, a mutant whose Schwann cells are deficient in myelin basic protein, was used and antibody reactivity against myelin basic protein was employed to ascertain the identity of Schwann cells in the nerve allograft. Without immunosuppression, donor Shiverer Schwann cells were rejected and the nerve graft morphology was restored by host-derived Schwann cells. With continuous immunosuppression, donor Shiverer Schwann cells persisted in the graft segment, associated with a chronic rejection phenomenon. The latter allowed migration of host-derived Schwann cells, over time, into the graft segment in approximately half the cases. After withdrawal of finite (6 weeks) immunosuppression, a rejection response eliminated donor Schwann cells. Replacement by host Schwann cells ensued as was hypothesized.
KW - Donor cells
KW - Mutant mice
KW - Myelin basic protein
KW - Nerve injury
KW - Nerve regeneration
KW - Shiverer mice
KW - Transplantation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028223941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00005072-199405000-00013
DO - 10.1097/00005072-199405000-00013
M3 - Article
C2 - 8176414
AN - SCOPUS:0028223941
SN - 0022-3069
VL - 53
SP - 316
EP - 322
JO - Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
JF - Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
IS - 3
ER -