Changes in T lymphocyte subsets and intracellular cytokines after transfer of chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts

The aim of the present study was to observe the immune mechanism underlying the rejection of chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts for use in clinical applications. A total of 128 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a negative contrast group (NC, 32 mice), a fresh autograft group (AG, 32 mice), a fresh allogeneic nerve group (FN, 32 mice) and a chemically extracted acellular allogeneic nerve group (CEN, 32 mice). Various types of nerve grafts were implanted into the thigh muscle of BALB/C mice in the corresponding groups. At 3, 7, 14 and 28 days post-operation, the mice (8 cases from each group) were sacrificed and their spleens were extracted. The spleens were ground into paste. The erythrocytes and other cells were lysed using distilled water and the T lymphocytes were collected. Monoclonal antibodies (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25, IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α) were then added to the solution. The Facial Action Coding System was used to determine the positive rates of the cells combined with the monoclonal antibodies above. No significant statistical differences were observed between the CEN, NC and AG groups. However, some data of the FN group were significantly higher than those of the other groups at the corresponding time. No obvious immune rejections were observed among the chemically extracted acellular nerve allografts compared with fresh nerve autograft.