Immunology and immunomodulation of corneal transplantation.
Corneal allografts are the oldest, most common, and most successful transplants performed on humans and animals. The cornea is endowed with a constellation of unique factors that contribute to its immune privilege and the low incidence of immune rejection. In spite of this immune privilege, 10 percent of first-time corneal grafts will undergo immune rejection. Several novel therapeutic strategies hold promise for modulating the alloimmune response by either promoting antigen-specific tolerance or redirecting the host's response from a Th1 pathway toward a Th2 pathway.
Niederkorn
Jerry Y
JY
Department of Ophthalmology, U.T. Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA. jniede@mednet.swmed.edu
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000502:physiology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D007518:Isoantibodies; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins