Regulatory T cells in transplantation tolerance.
Our ability to harness tolerance mechanisms will have a major impact in organ transplantation if it becomes possible to minimize drug maintenance, or even wean off immunosuppressive drugs. An improved understanding of the biology of regulatory T cells will make it possible to replace current induction regimens with those favouring the vaccination and selection of T cells that prevent graft rejection. Once tolerance is established, the continuous supply of graft antigens should sustain T cell mediated regulation as the dominant mechanism preventing graft rejection.
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK. herman.waldmann@path.ox.ac.uk
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D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014019:Tissue Donors; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens