Overcoming Chronic Rejection-Can it B?
Despite the success of immunosuppressive drug therapy to reduce the incidence of acute rejection in organ transplantation, chronic rejection is still an impediment to long-term graft survival and tolerance. There is a growing body of evidence that B-cell production of alloantibody is an important element in the genesis of chronic rejection. Effector function of B cells in transplantation is not specifically targeted by current T-cell-directed therapeutic approaches. We briefly discuss the origin, animal models, diagnostic methods, and currently available B cell reagents that might be used in combination with existing immunosuppressive regimens to address B-cell-mediated allograft injury.
Kwun
Jean
J
Department of Surgery, Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Knechtle
Stuart J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D012377:Rodentia; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007518:Isoantibodies