Cytokine and alloantibody networks in long term cardiac allografts in rat recipients treated with rapamycin.

Treatment with rapamycin (RPM) prevents accelerated rejection of (LEW x BN)F1 cardiac allografts in LEW rats presensitized with BN skin grafts. This study analyzed the influence of RPM on cytokine (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12) and alloantibody networks in this model. Accelerated (24-h) rejection was associated with strong expression of intragraft IL-2 and IL-12 (p40) mRNAs, which reached maximal levels 3 to 6 h post-transplantation. IL-4 and IL-10 mRNAs were readily detectable throughout the observation period. RPM therapy abrogated rejection at 24 h and prolonged cardiac allograft survival to about 50 days. This effect was correlated with a profound initial depression of IL-2 mRNA; delayed expression of IL-2 mRNA was detected in well functioning grafts at > 20 days. In RPM-treated hosts, expression of IL-12 (p40) mRNA was low at the early time points (6-24 h), but prominent in long term grafts. The expression of both IL-4 and IL-10 mRNAs was preserved in RPM-conditioned hosts. Immunohistologic analysis of long term allografts revealed an interstitial cellular infiltrate and areas of intimal proliferation within small arteries indicative of early transplant arteriosclerosis. Analysis of cytokine proteins showed dense labeling of mononuclear and some endothelial cells for IL-4 and IL-12 (p70), but not for IL-2 or IFN-gamma alloantibody in the early post-transplant period. However, an increase in circulating and intragraft IgM and, to a lesser extent, IgG, primarily of the IgG2b subclass, was evident in long term recipients. Thus, RPM treatment reduces, but does not completely inhibit, the expression of Th1-type and preserves the expression of Th2-type cytokines. The demonstration of IL-12 in long term allografts after RPM therapy may reflect late activation of macrophages that, coupled with the appearance of IgG2b, may contribute to the chronic rejection of cardiac allografts.