Organ transplantation animal models

The complexity and plasticity of BBB properties called for experimental dissection of the disrnption process in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Multiple cell and organ cnltnres, animal models, and measurement techniques have been developed, each of which addresses some of the issues involved. The development of research into BBB characteristics was initially approached in avian embryos, where transplanted endothelial quail cells invaded a developing chick chimera. A simpler cell culture model of the BBB was developed by Rubin and co-workers. More recently, an immortalized cell line created from vascular endothelial cells was used to develop another model of the BBB in co-cultures with glioma cells and was used to demonstrate nitric oxide-induced perturbations of these cells. hi another cell culture model, hypoxia was shown to increase the susceptibility to oxidative stress and intercellular permeability. ... 

The use of HVJ liposome gene delivery for clinical trials has been evaluated in several animal models, and we believe that this gene delivery system is promising for the treatment of cancers, chronic diseases, and organ transplantation [19]. 

Part II of the book explores the role of chemokines in a variety of chronic and acute inflammatory diseases, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), asthma, interstitial lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and organ transplant rejection. These topics are discussed through a presentation of the pathogenesis of the disease, using a wide range of clinically relevant animal models of the disease, as well as the examination of chemokine expression in clinical samples. 

After these initial approaches in animal models, ECP has been used in humans for the prevention and/or treatment of several solid organ transplant rejections, including kidney, heart, lung, pancreas, and liver. The year of introduction of ECP for treating rejection of each type of transplant is indicated in Table 5. Importantly, ECP is effective for patients resistant to conventional treatment, particularly if started early. Besides reversal of allograft rejection, a reduction in immunosuppressive therapy has also been frequently achieved [173,174]. 

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