TY - JOUR
T1 - CD4+ lymphocytes improve venous blood flow in experimental arteriovenous fistulae
AU - Duque, Juan C.
AU - Martinez, Laisel
AU - Mesa, Annia
AU - Wei, Yuntao
AU - Tabbara, Marwan
AU - Salman, Loay
AU - Vazquez-Padron, Roberto I.
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by the National Institutes of Health grants R01-DK-098511 (to R.I.V.-P. and L.H.S.) and R01-HL-109582-S1 (to A.M.).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/8/1
Y1 - 2015/8/1
N2 - Background The role of immune cells in arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) maturation is poorly understood and has received, until quite recently, little attention. This study examines the function of T lymphocytes in AVF vascular remodeling. Methods Experimental fistulae were created in athymic rnu nude rats lacking mature T lymphocytes and euthymic control animals by anastomosing the left superior epigastric vein to the nearby femoral artery. Blood flow rates, wall morphology, and histologic changes were assessed in AVF 21 days after creation. The effect of CD4+ lymphocytes on AVF maturation in athymic animals was analyzed by adoptive transfer of cells after fistula creation. Results The absence of T lymphocytes compromised blood flow in experimental fistulae. Histopathologic inspection of AVF from athymic rats revealed that T-cell immunodeficiency negatively affected venous vascular remodeling, as evidenced by a reduced lumen, a thick muscular layer, and a low number of inflammatory cells compared with control animals. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ lymphocytes from euthymic rats into athymic animals after fistula creation improved blood flow and reduced intima-media thickness. Conclusion These results point at the protective role of CD4+ lymphocytes in the remodeling of the AVF vascular wall.
AB - Background The role of immune cells in arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) maturation is poorly understood and has received, until quite recently, little attention. This study examines the function of T lymphocytes in AVF vascular remodeling. Methods Experimental fistulae were created in athymic rnu nude rats lacking mature T lymphocytes and euthymic control animals by anastomosing the left superior epigastric vein to the nearby femoral artery. Blood flow rates, wall morphology, and histologic changes were assessed in AVF 21 days after creation. The effect of CD4+ lymphocytes on AVF maturation in athymic animals was analyzed by adoptive transfer of cells after fistula creation. Results The absence of T lymphocytes compromised blood flow in experimental fistulae. Histopathologic inspection of AVF from athymic rats revealed that T-cell immunodeficiency negatively affected venous vascular remodeling, as evidenced by a reduced lumen, a thick muscular layer, and a low number of inflammatory cells compared with control animals. Adoptive transfer of CD4+ lymphocytes from euthymic rats into athymic animals after fistula creation improved blood flow and reduced intima-media thickness. Conclusion These results point at the protective role of CD4+ lymphocytes in the remodeling of the AVF vascular wall.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.surg.2015.02.018
DO - 10.1016/j.surg.2015.02.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 25999254
AN - SCOPUS:84937520552
VL - 158
SP - 529
EP - 536
JO - Surgery (United States)
JF - Surgery (United States)
SN - 0039-6060
IS - 2
ER -