The effects of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in rat allograft adventitial inflammation and allograft arteriosclerosis.

This study was designed to investigate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) during allograft adventitial inflammation and arteriosclerosis. Lewis rats were used as donors and Wistar rats as recipients for the experimental groups, while both donors and recipients were Wistar rats in the control groups. The 36 experimental and 16 control allografts were divided into four groups (nine in each experimental and four in each control group): group A animals were euthanized at 1 week posttransplantation; groups B, C, and D animals were euthanized at 2, 3, and 4 weeks posttransplantation, respectively. The method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. Immunohistological and pathological studies were performed to evaluate allograft adventitial inflammation, arteriosclerosis, and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Allografts collected from group D demonstrated abundant infiltration of smooth muscle cells and collagenous fibers with inflammatory cells in the adventitia. ELISA demonstrated a higher levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in experimental than control groups. Additionally, PCNA increased over time in the adventitia. Our results suggested that the expressions of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha play important roles during the development of allograft adventitial inflammation and arteriosclerosis.