title: The innate immune system in transplantation.
abstract: The vertebrate innate immune system consists of inflammatory cells and soluble mediators that comprise the first line of defense against microbial infection and, importantly, trigger antigen-specific T and B cell responses that lead to lasting immunity. The molecular mechanisms responsible for microbial non-self recognition by the innate immune system have been elucidated for a large number of pathogens. How the innate immune system recognizes non-microbial non-self, such as organ transplants, is less clear. In this review, we approach this question by describing the principal mechanisms of non-self, or 'damaged' self, recognition by the innate immune system (pattern recognition receptors, the missing self theory, and the danger hypothesis) and discussing whether and how these mechanisms apply to allograft rejection.
authors: Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. oberbarnscheidtmh@upmc.edu
authors: Martin H
authors: MH
authors: Oberbarnscheidt
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Zecher
authors: Fadi G
authors: FG
authors: Lakkis
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition