Two Months Delayed Induction Of Mixed Chimerism After Heart And Kidney Cotransplantation In Nonhuman Primates

We have previously achieved transplant tolerance in cynomologous recipients cotransplanted with heart and kidney allografts by treating recipients with standard triple drug immunosuppression for 4 months followed by mixed chimerism induction consisting of conditioning and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Reducing the period of maintenance immunosuppression before BMT may diminish risks of immunosuppression-associated complications, post-transplant proliferative disorder (PTLD) and graft sensitization when applied to the clinic. Here we tested a more clinically relevant 2 month-delayed BMT protocol in heart plus kidney recipients.