Transplant graft vasculopathy: an emerging target for prevention and treatment of renal allograft dysfunction.
Maintenance of healthy endothelium is essential to vascular homeostasis, and preservation of endothelial cell function is critical for transplant allograft function. Damage of microvascular endothelial cells is now regarded as a characteristic feature of acute vascular rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy, which is an important predictor of graft loss and is often associated with transplant vasculopathy. In this review, we will discuss the role of microvascular endothelium, in renal allograft dysfunction, particularly as it relates to markers of endothelial dysfunction and endothelial repair mechanisms. We also discuss the potential for therapies targeting endothelial dysfunction and transplant graft vasculopathy.
Kang
Duk-Hee
DH
Division of Nephrology, Ewha Women's University College of Medicine, Ewha Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea. dhkang@ewha.ac.kr
Kang
Shin-Wook
SW
Jeong
Hyeon Joo
HJ
Kim
Yu Seun
YS
Yang
Chul Woo
CW
Johnson
Richard J
RJ
D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*