Overcoming Chronic Rejection-Can it B?

Transplantation. 2009 Oct 27;88(8):955-61. doi: 10.1097/TP.0b013e3181b96646.

Abstract

Despite the success of immunosuppressive drug therapy to reduce the incidence of acute rejection in organ transplantation, chronic rejection is still an impediment to long-term graft survival and tolerance. There is a growing body of evidence that B-cell production of alloantibody is an important element in the genesis of chronic rejection. Effector function of B cells in transplantation is not specifically targeted by current T-cell-directed therapeutic approaches. We briefly discuss the origin, animal models, diagnostic methods, and currently available B cell reagents that might be used in combination with existing immunosuppressive regimens to address B-cell-mediated allograft injury.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Movement
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Graft Rejection / drug therapy
  • Graft Rejection / immunology*
  • Heart Transplantation / immunology
  • Heart Transplantation / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Isoantibodies / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / pathology
  • Rodentia
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
  • Transplantation, Homologous / immunology
  • Transplantation, Homologous / pathology
  • Tunica Intima / pathology

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Isoantibodies