title: Preventing T cell rejection of pig xenografts.
abstract: Xenotransplantation is a potential solution to the limited supply of donor organs. While early barriers to xenograft acceptance, such as hyperacute rejection, are now largely avoided through genetic engineering, the next frontier in successful xenograft survival will require prevention of T cell-mediated rejection. Most successful immunosuppressive regimens in xenotransplantation utilize T cell depletion with antibody therapy. Additionally, the use of T cell costimulatory blockade - specifically blockade of the CD40-CD154 pathway - shows promise with several reports of long-term xenograft survival. Additional therapies, such as transgenic expression of T cell coinhibitory molecules or transfer of immunomodulatory cells to promote tolerance, may be necessary to achieve reliable long-term xenograft acceptance. Further studies in pre-clinical models are essential in order to optimize these regimens prior to trials in patients.
authors: Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Higginbotham
authors: Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Mandy L
authors: ML
authors: Ford
authors: Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Kenneth A
authors: KA
authors: Newell
authors: Emory Transplant Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: abadams@emory.edu.
authors: Andrew B
authors: AB
authors: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013552:Swine; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Cellular rejection; Nonhuman primate; Pig xenografts; Renal transplant; T cell-mediated rejection; Xenotransplantation