Heart transplant recipients in whom high levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies directed towards a spectrum of histocompatibility antigens develop frequently represent difficult management problems. Recipients of multiple transplants and multiparous females generally form higher levels of panel reactive antibodies, which have been associated with fatal rejection episodes and accelerated graft atherosclerosis. In this study, two multiple transplant patients with preexistent high levels of panel reactive antibodies and two multiparous women who were considered at risk of sensitization were treated with a new form of immunotherapy termed photochemotherapy in addition to conventional immunosuppression. High levels of panel reactive antibodies have been reduced, and patients have suffered few rejection episodes and no infectious complications. This preliminary experience shows that the addition of photochemotherapy to conventional regimens may improve the clinical course of hypersensitized transplant patients without additional immunosuppressive risk.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Persistence of the Fc cytophilic antibody receptor in macrophage hybrid cells.

Hybrid cell clones were obtained from mouse macrophase/Ehrlich ascites cell fusions which showed the 'Fc' cytophilic antibody receptor site, phagocytosis and motility typical of macrophages. With continued growth of the clones for 11 weeks, the receptor became undetectable but could be unmasked by dilute trypsin treatment; subsequent remasking of the receptor could be prevented with cycloheximide treatment of the hybrid cells. These hybrids produced cystic anaplastic tumours in neonatal irradiated mice. Chinese hamster/mouse interspecific macrophage hybrid cells did not show macrophage markers. This was probably due to rapid loss of macrophage chromosomes from the hybrid cells.

Animals↗