title: B cells in clinical transplantation tolerance.
abstract: The rarity of tolerance following clinical transplantation has complicated the study of the responsible mechanisms. Several recent studies of kidney transplant recipients have demonstrated an association between increased numbers of B cells with less mature, inhibitory phenotypes and a state of tolerance. While a growing body of evidence from experimental models supports a role for B cells in regulating or suppressing immune responses, a causative role for B cells in clinical transplantation tolerance has yet to be proven. If B cells are conclusively shown to participate in the development of transplantation tolerance, it will be important to define the responsible mechanisms in order to design monitoring assays and immunosuppressive regimens that favor the development of tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and the Emory Transplant Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Newell
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*