title: Biological effects of induction immunosuppression.
abstract: The concept of induction immunosuppression is evolving. Once used to buttress the inadequacies of past maintenance immunosuppressive regimens, it is now being used to permit effective maintenance immunosuppression using ever decreasing amounts of modern agents. In addition to lymphocyte depletion, with which it was once synonymous, it is now recognized that induction immunosuppression is associated with a host of non-depletional effects such as receptor modulation and blockade, which profoundly alter the lymphocyte's capacity to mount an effective response. Additionally, the recent focus on the effect of induction agents on antigen presenting cells and on regulatory factors controlling homeostatic repopulation may ultimately permit a safer, more refined and more effective approach to induction immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Room 11S219, Building 10, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. douglash@intra.niddk.nih.gov
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents