title: Immunology of liver transplantation.
abstract: In comparison with other solid-organ transplants, liver allografts are immunologically privileged. Allografts are rejected by immune reactions of the host, and clinical therapy for liver allografts includes immunosuppression to prevent rejection. Orthotopic liver transplant causes systemic donor-specific T-cell tolerance. In addition, antigens introduced into hepatocytes or the portal vein cause tolerance. The basic mechanism in liver tolerance may include continuous exposure of diverse liver cell types to endotoxin derived from intestinal bacteria. This exposure promotes the expression of cytokines, antigen-presenting molecules, and costimulatory signals that inactivate T cells, partly by effects on liver antigen-presenting cells. A simple, reliable, noninvasive assay to evaluate antidonor alloreactivity may be important in implementing these approaches in the laboratory and clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: İnal
mesh_terms: D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006648:Histocompatibility; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents