Composite vascularized skin/bone graft model: a viable source for vascularized bone marrow transplantation.

In this study, we introduce a new model for vascularized skin and bone marrow transplantation. Twenty-five Lewis (RT1(1)) rats were studied. Anatomic dissection studies were performed in 5 animals. In the experimental group, 10 isograft transplantations were performed between Lewis rats. Combined groin skin and femoral bone flaps were transplanted based on the femoral artery and vein. Transplants were evaluated on a daily basis. All flaps survived without problems over 100 days posttransplant. The skin component remained pink and pliable, and grew new hair. Histological examination of the femoral bone (except the femoral head) revealed active hematopoiesis with a viable compact and cancellous bone components on day 100 posttransplant. This model can be applied to tolerance induction studies across the major Histocompatibility (MHC) barrier, where bone will serve as donor of stem and progenitor cells, and the skin flap will serve as a monitor of graft rejection.

Siemionow M ，Ulusal BG ，Ozmen S ，Ulusal AE ，Ozer K ... -  《MICROSURGERY》

Composite vascularized skin/bone transplantation models for bone marrow-based tolerance studies.

Ozmen S ，Ulusal BG ，Ulusal AE ，Izycki D ，Siemionow M ... -  《ANNALS OF PLASTIC SURGERY》

Trafficking of donor-derived bone marrow correlates with chimerism and extension of composite allograft survival across MHC barrier.

Ozmen S ，Ulusal BG ，Ulusal AE ，Izycki D ，Yoder B ，Siemionow M ... -  《TRANSPLANTATION PROCEEDINGS》

Vascularized bone marrow transplantation: A new surgical approach using isolated femoral bone/bone marrow.

Orthotopic composite tissue (limb) transplantation in rats is a unique model for vascularized bone marrow transplantation because bone marrow cells and bone marrow stroma are transplanted by microsurgical means, thus creating immediate bone marrow space and engraftment. However, it contains a skin component and other musculoskeletal tissues that complicate issues related to tolerance induction. To study only aspects of vascularized bone marrow transplantation, we created a new isolated vascularized bone marrow transplant model in rats. The common iliac (or femoral) artery and vein were microsurgically anastomosed to the recipient abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava in an end-to-side fashion, respectively. Syngeneic male Lewis (RT1(1), n = 20) and allogeneic male BN (RT1(n), n = 10) donors were transplanted to female Lewis recipients. To establish rejection criteria, we examined histopathology and used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess microchimerism of donor male bone marrow cells in the peripheral blood of female recipients using rat Y chromosome (sex-determining region Y)-specific primers. All recipients were healthy and remained stable without major complications for up to 300 days posttransplant. Morphologically, syngeneic male Lewis bone marrow showed a near-normal appearance. Allogeneic male BN bone marrow was clearly rejected. Male bone marrow cells were detected by PCR in the peripheral blood of all syngeneic recipients, but not in allogeneic blood specimens. A new surgical approach to bone marrow transplantation was established. This consisted of the vascularized femoral bone/bone marrow transplant. Further analyses regarding the ability of vascularized femoral bone marrow transplants to induce systemic transplantation tolerance in adult rats will provide insights into not only various issues of immunology but also the potential clinical application of vascularized bone marrow transplantation.

Suzuki H ，Patel N ，Matthews M ，DelRossi AJ ，Doolin EJ ，Hewitt CW ... -  《JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH》

New composite tissue allograft model of vascularized bone marrow transplant: the iliac osteomyocutaneous flap.

Nasir S ，Klimczak A ，Sonmez E ，Bozkurt M ，Gibson S ，Siemionow M ... -  《-》