Echocardiography-guided assessment of mouse cardiac transplant rejection improves model reproducibility

Figures

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  Figure 1. Reduced variability in delineating graft rejection using echocardiography. (A) Experimental schematic. (B) Representative tracing a full function (left), declining function (middle) and rejection (right). (C) Kaplan–Meier graft survival curves assessed by palpation (P, gray) and echocardiography (Echo, black). Each mouse was evaluated by both modalities. Matching symbols represent survival as determined by the two modalities (n = 6). (D) Pearson coefficient comparing reproducibility of graft rejection determination by the 4 blinded and independent observers (Echo 1, Echo 2, P 1, P 2).

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  Figure 2. Improved accuracy of graft rejection diagnosis by echocardiography. (A) Experimental schematic. (B) Representative histologic images of true graft failure (left) and false graft failure (right) as determined by visual assessment of graft beating after laparotomy. Arrows indicate lymphocytic infiltrate.

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  Figure 3. Echocardiography,guided assessment of alloimmune response reduces biologic variability. (A) Longitudinal post-transplant allograft heart rates assessed by echocardiography. (B) Experimental schematic. (C) Quantification and variance of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 positive CD8 + and CD4+ T cells at a pre-specified post-transplant time point (Fixed time point) or at the time of a discrete change in allograft heart rate of 200 beats-per-minute as determined by echocardiography (Echo guided). n = 4/grp. CV = coefficient of variation, SD = standard deviation, by Welch's t test.