title: Endothelial Cells in Antibody-Mediated Rejection of Kidney Transplantation: Pathogenesis Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications.
abstract: Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) has been identified as a main obstacle for stable immune tolerance and long survival of kidney allografts. In spite of new insights into the underlying mechanisms of AMR, accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment are still challenges in clinical practice. Endothelium is the first barrier between recipients' immune systems and grafts in vascularized organ transplants. Considering that endothelial cells express a number of antigens that can be attacked by various allo- and autoantibodies, endothelial cells act as main targets for the recipients' humoral immune responses. Importantly, emerging evidence has shown that endothelial cells in transplants could also initiate protective mechanisms in response to immune injuries. A better understanding of the role of endothelial cells during the pathogenesis of AMR might provide novel therapeutic targets. In the present review, we summarize the antigens expressed by endothelial cells and also discuss the activation and accommodation of endothelial cells as well as their clinical implications. Collectively, the progress discussed in this review indicates endothelial cells as promising targets to improve current diagnosis and therapeutic regimens for AMR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9672-0720
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ruiming
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0537-7045
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Tongyu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7033-3076
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1152-1624
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007518:Isoantibodies; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface