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