Whole-eye transplantation: Current challenges and future perspectives

Whole-eye transplantation emerges as a frontier in ophthalmology,promising a transformative approach to irreversible blindness.Despite advancements,formidable challenges persist.Preservation of donor eye viability post-enucleation necessitates meticulous surgical techniques to optimize retinal integrity and ganglion cell survival.Overcoming the inhibitory milieu of the central nervous system for successful optic nerve regeneration remains elusive,prompting the exploration of neurotrophic support and immunomodulatory interventions.Immunological tolerance,paramount for graft acceptance,confronts the distinc-tive immunogenicity of ocular tissues,driving research into targeted immunosup-pression strategies.Ethical and legal considerations underscore the necessity for stringent standards and ethical frameworks.Interdisciplinary collaboration and ongoing research endeavors are imperative to navigate these complexities.Biomaterials,stem cell therapies,and precision immunomodulation represent promising avenues in this pursuit.Ultimately,the aim of this review is to critically assess the current landscape of whole-eye transplantation,elucidating the challenges and advancements while delineating future directions for research and clinical practice.Through concerted efforts,whole-eye transplantation stands to revolu-tionize ophthalmic care,offering hope for restored vision and enhanced quality of life for those afflicted with blindness.

Formation of microchimerism in rat small bowel transplantation by spienocyte infusion

AIM： To investigate the effect of donor splenocyte infusion combined with cyclosporine A （CsA） on rejection of rat small bowel transplantation （SBT）. METHODS： Male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats and female Wistar rats weighing 230-270 g were used as donors and recipients respectively in the study. Heterotopic small bowel transplantation was performed. The rats were divided into three groups： group one receiving allotransplantation （SD→Wistar）, group two receiving allotransplantation （SD→Wistar） ＋ donor splenocyte infusion, group three receiving allotransplantation （SD →Wistar） ＋ donor splenocyte infusion ＋ CsA followed by CsA 10 mg/kg per day after transplantation, in which recipient Wistar rats were injected with 2 ×10^8 SD splenocytes 28 d before transplantation, and treated with CsA after transplantation. Finally, the specific DNA fragment of donor Y chromosome was detected in recipient peripheral blood and skin by PCR. The survival time after small bowel transplantation was observed. Gross and histopathological examinations were performed. RESULTS： The survival time after small bowel transplantation was 7.1 ± 1.2 d in group 1, 18.4 ± 3.6 d in group 2 and 31.5± 3.1 d in group 3. The survival time was significant longer （P 〈 0.01） in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. The gross and histopathological examination showed that the rejection degree in group 3 was lower than that in groups 1 and 2.CONCLUSION： Donor splenocyte infusion combined with CsA decreases remarkably the rejection and prolongs the survival time after rat small bowel transplantation.