title: The Complement System and Antibody-Mediated Transplant Rejection.
abstract: Complement activation is an important cause of tissue injury in patients with Ab-mediated rejection (AMR) of transplanted organs. Complement activation triggers a strong inflammatory response, and it also generates tissue-bound and soluble fragments that are clinically useful markers of inflammation. The detection of complement proteins deposited within transplanted tissues has become an indispensible biomarker of AMR, and several assays have recently been developed to measure complement activation by Abs reactive to specific donor HLA expressed within the transplant. Complement inhibitors have entered clinical use and have shown efficacy for the treatment of AMR. New methods of detecting complement activation within transplanted organs will improve our ability to diagnose and monitor AMR, and they will also help guide the use of complement inhibitory drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045; and.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stites
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Moglie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Quintrec
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045; and Joshua.Thurman@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thurman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000276:immunology; D016377:Organ Transplantation
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D003165:Complement System Proteins