title: Optimising long-term graft survival: establishing the benefit of targeting B lymphocytes.
abstract: Kidney transplants do not last for the natural lifespan of most recipients. Of the reasons why transplants fail, damage by the immune system is the commonest cause. Understanding how the immune system recognises transplanted organs has increased significantly in recent years, but there is little insight into how organs are damaged, and no still no way of suppressing immune-mediated damage without exposing patients to the detrimental effects of long-term immunosuppression. In this article, we review the role of antibodies and B cells in immune-mediated damage of kidney transplants, and discuss the potential for manipulation of B cells to improve clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kin Yee
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Shiu
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London, and honorary consultant nephrologist, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK anthony.dorling@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation
keywords: B lymphocytes; Transplantation; chronic rejection; kidney