Medical University Innsbruck

Here we describe the orthotopic rat hind-limb transplantation procedure, which seems to be the gold standard in vivo model for composite tissue allotransplantation research.

Vascularized Composite Allotransplantations (VCA) have become a clinical reality. However, broad clinical application of VCA is limited by chronic multi-drug immunosuppression. The authors present a reliable and reproducible large animal model to translate novel immunomodulatory strategies that can minimize or potentially eliminate the need of immunosuppression in VCA.

The murine cervical heart transplantation model is well suited for immunological as well as ischemia reperfusion injury studies. We modified the procedure using a non-suture cuff technique and performed more than 1,000 successful transplants with this approach.

Herein, we provide additional details of this technique to supplement the video.

Shock waves nowadays are well known for their regenerative effects. Therefore in vitro experiments are of increasing interest. We therefore developed a model for in vitro shock wave trials (IVSWT) that enables us to mimic in vivo conditions thereby avoiding distracting physical effects.

To study combined solid organ and vascularized composite allotransplantation, we describe a novel heterotopic en bloc chest wall, thymus, and heart transplant model in mice using a cervical non-suture cuff technique.

This novel model for orthotopic hind limb transplantation in the mouse, applying a non-suture cuff technique for super-microvascular anastomosis, provides a powerful tool for in vivo mechanistic immunological research related to vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA).

Among abdominal solid organ transplantation, pancreatic grafts are prone to develop severe ischemia reperfusion injury-associated graft damage, leading eventually to early graft loss. This protocol describes a model of murine pancreas transplantation using a non-suture cuff technique, ideally suited for analyzing these early, deleterious damages.

Murine full-thickness skin transplantation is a well-established model to study rejection in an alloimmune setting. Here, we provide a tutorial of each step involved in performing a BALB/c-->C57BL/6 full-thickness skin transplant.

Methods allowing the characterization and isolation of stem cell populations from biological samples are critical for the advance of stem cell-targeted treatments in cancer and beyond. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for cancer stem cell isolation using the dye-triggered side population phenotype.

Quantification of donor-derived cells is required to monitor engraftment after stem cell transplantation in patients with hemoglobinopathies. A combination of flow cytometry-based cell sorting, colony formation assay, and subsequent analysis of short tandem repeats may be used to assess the proliferation and differentiation of progenitors in the erythroid compartment.

Large genetic screens in model organisms have led to the identification of negative genetic interactions. Here, we describe a data integration workflow using data from genetic screens in model organisms to delineate drug combinations targeting synthetic lethal interactions in cancer.

We present a murine model of brain death induction in order to evaluate the influence of its pathophysiological effects on organs as well as on consecutive grafts in the context of solid organ transplantation.

Exosomes are released upon in vitro application of shockwaves. Here, we describe how to apply shockwaves on cultured endothelial cells and subsequently isolate exosomes for further investigation.

Here we present a protocol to conduct repeated impedance telemetry measurements during cochlear implantation (CI). They may allow conclusions on the electrode's and implant's function. Repeated impedance measurements enable objective feedback on whether the electrode is positioned inside the perilymph or outside the inner ear.

The present protocol describes the measurement of the electrically evoked stapedius reflex (eSR) via cochlear implant (CI). Two applications are discussed: intraoperative detection of eSR for verification of the coupling between the cochlear implant and the auditory nerve and postoperative measurement of eSR thresholds (eSRT) for CI fitting.