Manipulation of dendritic cells as an approach to improved outcomes in transplantation.
At the time of organ transplantation, a variety of non-parenchymal cells are transplanted simultaneously with the allograft. Recognition of the importance of these cells as potential immunostimulatory cells lead to the concept of 'passenger leukocytes' as the principal instigators of rejection. Passenger leukocytes include interstitial dendritic cells (DCs) and blood-derived monocytes/macrophages. As investigators have discovered the significance of DCs in influencing graft outcome, so have they begun to determine the best ways to influence DCs themselves. This review discusses the role of DCs in transplantation and then focuses on three different approaches for manipulating DCs to improve allograft survival: (1) targeting of chemokines involved in DC migration, (2) pharmacological arrest of DC maturation, and (3) genetic engineering of DCs.
Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, E1502 Biomedical Science Tower, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. coatespt@msx.upmc.edu
P Toby H
PT
Coates
Bridget L
BL
Colvin
Holger
H
Hackstein
Angus W
AW
Thomson
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D018925:Chemokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance
D018925:Chemokines