부산대학교 도서관

PURPOSE. To investigate the immunological basisfor the prolonged corneal allograft survival after subconjunctival injectionsof liposomes filled with dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl[sub 2] MDP-LIP). METHODS. F344 rats received orthotropic DA corneal grafts. One group ofrats was treated with subconjunctival injections of Cl[sub 2] MDP-LIPon days 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 postoperatively, the control groups received no treatment.Nineteen or 42 days postoperatively cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activitywas measured in the lymph nodes draining the grafted and the contralateraleyes, in the spleen and the mesenteric lymph nodes. Sera taken at the sametime points were tested for presence of lytic alloantibodies. RESULTS. On day 19 CTL activity in submandibular lymph nodes draining thegrafted eyes was similar in the 2 groups. In the mesenteric lymph nodes highCTL activity was found in the untreated rats and low in the Cl[sub 2] MDP-LIPrats. The spleen showed high CTL activity in the untreated group but no activityin the liposome group. Forty two days postoperatively a decline in CTL activitywas seen in both groups. Complement dependent anti-donor antibodies were absentin the Cl[sub 2] MDP-LIP group at both time points whereas antibodieswere present on days 19 and 42 in the untreated group. CONCLUSIONS. Repeated subconjunctival injection of Cl[sub 2] MDP-LIP restricts the induction of cellular cytotoxicity against donorantigens to the regional lymph nodes and suppresses cytotoxic antibody formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]