Treatment with Local Anti-IL-1ß Prolongs Allograft Survival After Rat Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation

Anti-IL-1b was applied in an experimental rat hindlimb transplantation model (Brown Norway (BN) rats to Lewis (LEW) rats). Four different treatment groups included: No treatment (1); baselineimmunosuppression consisting of FK506 30 mg/kg 50 days, ALS 0.5 mL day 0 C 3 (2), baseline immunosuppression C weekly injections of Anti-IL1b subcutaneously (s.c.) into the transplanted limb (3), baselineimmunosuppression C Anti-IL1b s.c. into the contralateral, nontransplanted limb (4). End-point was rejection grade III or postoperative day 100. Graft infiltrating cells were isolated and assessed for T cell populations using flow cytometry. Skin transplantations of BN and 3rd party rats were performed in long-survivors (> 100 days) to assess for tolerance.