ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of pre-infusion of allogeneic lymphoyctes treated with 5-FU on the rat liver graft. MethodsRat liver transplant models from Wistar to SD were established. Four groups were designed as following: control group: only liver transplantation without any other intervention; lymphocytes group: 1 ml of untreated lymphocytes (5×106/ml) from Wistar rats were preinfused into SD rats on day 7 and 4 separately before transplantation; lymphocytes with low concentration of 5-FU group: low concentration 5-FU (7.5 μg) treated lymphocytes were preinfused as above; lymphocytes with high concentration of 5-FU group: high concentration 5-FU (15 μg) treated lymphocytes were preinfused as above. Fas-L and CD8 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry method on day 7 after transplantation. ResultsThe integral opticaldensity (IOD) of Fas-L positive lymphocytes in the lobules of liver and portal areas were higher in lymphocytes with low concentration of 5-FU group than in the other groups （Plt;0.05）. There was no difference between lymphocyte group and lymphocytes with high concentration of 5-FU group （Pgt;0.05）. The IOD of CD8+ expression in lobules of liver was not different among all the three lymphocytes treated groups （Pgt;0.05）. But in portal areas, CD8+ expression was lower in the lymphocytes with low concentration of 5-FU group than in the other groups （Plt;0.05）. ConclusionPreinfusion of lymphocytes treated with low concentration 5-FU can induce graft immune tolerance, the probable mecanism of which is the increasing Fas-L expression in graft.
