Fas ligand is believed to mediate immune privilege in a variety of tissues, including the eye, testis, and a subset of tumors. We tested whether expression of Fas ligand on pancreatic islets either following adenoviral or germline gene transfer could confer immune privilege after transplantation. Islets were infected with an adenoviral vector containing the murine Fas ligand cDNA (AdFasL), and were transplanted into allogenic diabetic hosts. Paradoxically, AdFasL-infected islets underwent accelerated neutrophilic rejection. The rejection was T cell and B cell independent and required Fas protein expression by host cells, but not on islets. Similarly, transgenic mice expressing Fas ligand in pancreatic beta cells developed massive neutrophilic infiltrates and diabetes at a young age. Thus, Fas ligand expression on pancreatic islets results in neutrophilic infiltration and islet destruction. These results have important implications for the development of Fas ligand-based immunotherapies.

Multibranched stent graft implantation eliminates aneurysm flow, preserves visceral perfusion, and avoids many of the physiologic stresses associated with other forms of repair. The results support an expanded role for this technique in the treatment of TAAA.

No abstract

Objective To determine the outcome of adjunctive renal artery stenting for renal artery coverage at the time of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods Between 8/2000 to 8/2008, 29 patients underwent elective EVAR using bifurcated Zenith stent-grafts and simultaneous renal artery stenting. Renal artery stenting during EVAR was performed with endograft “encroachment” on the renal artery ostium (n = 23) or placement of a renal stent parallel to the main body of the endograft (“snorkel”, n = 8). Follow-up included routine contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), multi-view abdominal x-rays, and creatinine measurement at 1, 6, and 12 months, and then yearly thereafter. Results 31 renal arteries were stented successfully in 29 patients. All patients with planned renal artery stent placement (n=18) had a proximal neck length < 15mm. Mean proximal neck length was shorter in patients who underwent the “snorkel” technique (6.9 ± 3.1 mm) compared to those with planned endograft encroachment (9.9 ± 2.6 mm). None of the patients with unplanned endograft encroachment had neck lengths < 15mm (mean length: 26.3±10.2 mm). Mean proximal neck angulation was 42.8 ± 24.0 degrees and did not differ between the groups. One patient had a type I endoleak on completion angiography, and 2 additional patients had a type I endoleak on the first postoperative CT scan. All type I endoleaks resolved by the one-month postoperative CT scan. Primary-assisted patency of renal artery stents was 100% at a median follow-up of 12.5 months (range 2 days to 77.4 months). One patient had near occlusion of a renal artery stent noted on follow-up CT scan at 9 months; patency was restored by placement of an additional stent. One patient required dialysis following sustained hypotension from a right external iliac artery injury which resulted in prolonged post-operative bleeding. Mean creatinine at baseline was 1.1 ± 0.3 mg/dl, 1.2 ± 0.5 mg/dl at 1 month follow-up, and 1.2 ± 0.5 mg/dl at 2 years of follow-up. There were no cases of late type I endoleaks (>one month postoperatively) or stent-graft migration. Conclusions Adjunctive renal artery stenting during endovascular AAA repair using the “encroachment” and “snorkel” techniques is safe and effective. Short and medium term primary patency rates are excellent, but careful follow-up is needed to determine the durability of these techniques.

The system has been used successfully to treat a large wide-necked pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch.