The challenge of inhibiting alloreactive T-cell memory.
Memory T cells specific for donor antigens present a unique challenge in transplantation. In addition to expressing rapid and robust immune responses to a transplanted organ, memory T cells may be resistant to the effects of currently used graft-prolonging therapies. The increasing recognition that alloreactive memory T cells participate in transplant rejection is driving new lines of research focusing on understanding the immunobiology of alloreactive memory T cells and on designing novel therapies to specifically target memory T cells. The purpose of this review is to summarize the effects of existing immunosuppressive drugs and costimulatory blockade on functions of alloreactive memory T cells that undermine allograft survival.
Valujskikh
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Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Immunology, NB30, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. valujsa@ccf.org
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents