The mechanism of xenograft hyperacute rejection in discordant species combinations remains controversial. The purpose of this work was to study the role of natural antibodies in the hyperacute rejection of guinea pig hearts transplanted into rats, a highly discordant combination. This study was conducted in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The endothelial cells of the graft being the first targets damaged in the process of hyperacute rejection, the binding of rat natural antibodies to guinea pig endothelial cells was studied by immunofluorescence. The study was carried out in vitro on guinea pig endothelial cells in culture, and ex vivo on isolated guinea pig hearts perfused with either rat serum or immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments bearing the antigen-binding site. In vitro and ex vivo, rat natural IgM were found to bind specifically to guinea pig endothelial cells, since IgM fragments bearing the antigen-binding site (Fab mu and Fab'mu) could be detected on these cells. IgM fragments were able to inhibit the fixation of native IgM molecules. In contrast, rat IgG only bound to endothelial cells through Fe portions. Thus rat natural IgM might play a role in hyperacute rejection by binding to the graft endothelial cells and triggering the complement cascade activation. In order to test the role of natural IgM in vivo, isolated guinea pig hearts were first perfused with rat Fab'mu, which inhibit the binding of IgM and are unable to activate the complement cascade. These hearts were then transplanted into Lewis rats. The rejection time of Fab'mu-perfused guinea pig hearts was prolonged compared with hearts perfused with buffer or IgG F(ab')2. Therefore, in the guinea pig to rat combination, preventing the binding of the recipient's natural IgM to the graft endothelium delays the hyperacute rejection. In addition, natural IgM are likely to play a greater role than natural IgG.
