Spleen: Reparative Regeneration and Influence on Liver

Abstract

This review considers experimental findings on splenic repair, obtained in two types of small animal (mouse, rat, and rabbit) models: splenic resections and autologous transplantations of splenic tissue. Resection experiments indicate that the spleen is able to regenerate, though not necessarily to the initial volume. The recovery lasts one month and preserves the architecture, albeit with an increase in the relative volume of lymphoid follicles. The renovated tissues, however, exhibit skewed functional profiles; notably, the decreased production of antibodies and the low cytotoxic activity of T cells, consistent with the decline of T-dependent zones and prolonged reduction in T cell numbers. Species–specific differences are evident as well, with the post-repair organ mass deficiency most pronounced in rabbit models. Autotransplantations of splenic material are of particular clinical interest, as the procedure can possibly mitigate the development of post-splenectomy syndrome. Under these conditions, regeneration lasts 1–2 months, depending on the species. The transplants effectively destroy senescent erythrocytes, assist in microbial clearance, and produce antibodies, thus averting sepsis and bacterial pneumonia. Meanwhile, cellular sources of splenic recovery in such models remain obscure, as well as the time required for T and B cell number reconstitution.