The Effect Of Rifampicin In Transplantation Immunology

Aim:To document the immunosuppressive effect of rifampicin in transpl-antation immunology.Methods and results:There are two parts in this project. Part 1:To document the changes of renal function, the does and blood concentration of immunosuppression, during the anti-tuberculosis therapy in a renal transplant recipient. Part 2:To evalatuate the immunosuppressive effect of rifampicin in transplantation immunology by using mouse skin grafting.Part 1:Methods:In clinical work, we found that:the blood concentration of FK506 decreased significantly during anti-tuberculosis therapy in a renal transplant recipient by using rifampicin. The FK506 blood concentration still lower compared to the target range, even increased the dose of FK506. But, there was no rejection of renal graft can be found during anti-tuberculosis therapy with rifampicin. Interestingly, renal graft acute rejection can be observed at the end of anti-tuberculosis therapy with rifampicin withdrew and FK506 blood concentration was modified within the safe range.Results:rifampicin may have the immunosuppressive effect or have the cooperative immunosuppressive effect with CNI.Part 2:Experiment 1:Methods:C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were used as donor and recipients, respectively. Control group:recipients received saline oral administration (0.5ml/day); rifampicin only group:recipients received rifampicin oral administration (0.6 mg/day); CsA only group:recipients received CsA oral administration (0.4mg/day); CsA+rifampicin group:recipients received CsA and rifampicin oral administration (0.4mg/day for CsA,0.6mg/day for rifampicin).10 mice for each group described above. Oral administration began at the day of skin grafting.Results:rifampicin only can not prolong skin grafts survival time (MST=12 days, P>0.05, compared to control group); rifampicin plus CsA can prolong skin grafts survival (MST=16.5 days); the inhibitory effect of rifampicin plus CsA was better compared to CsA only group (MST=14 days).Experiment 2:Methods:BALB/c mice were used as recipients. Group 1:recipients received saline oral administration (0.5ml/day); group 2:recipients received rifampicin oral administration (2.4mg/day); group 3:recipients received rifampicin oral administration (4.8mg/day).10 mice for each group described above. The mice were taken down at the day 5 after oral administration, lymphocytes in spleen and lymph nodes (4/mouse) were counted.Results:rifampicin can induce lymphocytes decrease in both spleen and lymph nodes. The lymphocytes decreasion positive related to the does of rifampicin.Conclusions:mouse skin grafting can be used for this project successfully. Small dose of rifampicin only can not delay skin graft rejection but can prolong skin graft survival time by used combined with CsA. Lymphocytes proliferation inhibition may contribute to suppressive effect of rifampicin. The level of suppression positive related to the dose of rifampicin.