Figure 2.

Modulating the robustness of renal allograft antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) by tuning the priming time at an early stage after skin sensitization. Balb/c recipient mice were primed with C3H skin grafts for 3, 4, and 7 days prior to receiving C3H donor kidneys. Balb/c mice receiving C3H kidneys without skin grafting acted as the nonprimed control. Donor-specific antibody (DSA) levels of recipient sera collected at time points ST0 and KT5 were measured by flow cytometry and expressed as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). ST0 = day 0 before skin transplantation and KT5 = day 5 after kidney transplantation. (A) Kidney graft mean ± SD survival times were >31.2 ± 9.6, >9 ± 3.6, 6.4 ± 2.1, and 4.6 ± 1.6 days in nonprimed, primed-3d, primed-4d, and primed-7d groups, respectively. (B) DSA levels on KT5 decreased as the priming time reduced. Data represent the mean ± SD of at least three independent samples. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (Student’s t-test). NS, no significant difference. (C) Sections of kidney grafts on KT5 were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), ×400; and for IgG and C3d deposition, ×200. AMR histological features of tubular injury, peritubular capillary (PTC) dilation, and capillaritis, deposition of IgG and C3d in PTC were alleviated by decreasing the priming time. Arrows in HE and PAS staining indicate the PTC and capillaritis. Arrows in IgG and C3d staining indicate the positive depositions in PTCs.