Effect of a PGE-1 analogue on the survival of cardiac transplant rats.

Prostaglandins can be considered as soluble factors of cell-mediated immunity. Studies with animal models have shown that prostaglandins of the series E-1 (PGE-1) can modulate the lymphocyte response to alloantigens. The goal of this work was to evaluate the immunosuppressive effect of a PGE-1 analogue (Enisoprost) on cardiac allograft survival in rats. PGE-1 was given to groups of six rats with heterotopic cardiac transplant. Group 1 was the untreated control group. Group 2a received PGE-1 from 0 to 4 days after transplant and group 2b received PGE-1 from 7 days before transplant to 4 days after transplant. Group 3 was treated with donor-specific blood transfusions (DST) 7 days before transplant. Groups 4a, 4b, and 4c were treated with DST and PGE-1 (0 to 4 days, -7 to 0 days, and -7 to 4 days relative to transplant, respectively). Group 5 was treated with cyclosporine (CsA), groups 6a, 6b, and 6c received DST, CsA and PGE-1. Cardiac allograft survival of group 2a (PGE-1) was better than that of the control group (9.6 +/- 1.7 days vs. 6.6 +/- 1.9 days) X +/- SD; p < 0.05. Group 4a (DST+PGE-1) had better cardiac allograft survival than group 3 (DST) (20.0 +/- 14.3 days vs. 14.3 +/- 3.3 days, respectively; p < 0.05). Group 6a (DST+CsA+PGE-1) had a better graft survival than group 5 (CsA) but the difference was not significant (44.6 +/- 13 days vs. 37.5 +/- 19.5 days, respectively; p = 0.20).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)