Related Experiment Videos
The concept of "partial" clinical tolerance.
Raffaello Cortesini1, Nicole Suciu-Foca
1Department of Pathology, Columbia University, 630 West 168 Street, P&S 14-401, New York, NY 10032, USA. RC238@columbia.edu
Transplant Immunology
|September 24, 2004
Summary
Achieving partial tolerance to organ transplants involves depleting specific T cells and expanding regulatory T cells. This strategy, using agents like Campath-1H, promotes graft acceptance and prevents chronic rejection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation Medicine
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Distinguishing between partial and complete tolerance in organ allografts is crucial.
- Advancements in immunosuppression, especially lymphocyte depletion, are key to inducing tolerance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the induction of partial tolerance to organ allografts.
- To investigate the role of T cell subsets in achieving graft acceptance.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing lymphocyte-depleting agents for induction therapy.
- Employing agents like Campath-1H and ATGAM.
- Considering Total Lymphoid Irradiation (TLI) as a pretreatment strategy.
Main Results:
- Induction therapy promotes the development of suppressor/regulatory T cells.
- Effective deletion of alloreactive T cells and expansion of antigen-specific suppressor (CD8+CD28-FOXP3+) and regulatory (CD4+CD25+FOXP3+) T cells.
- Campath-1H and high-dose ATGAM are effective induction treatments; TLI is a viable pretreatment strategy.
Conclusions:
- Partial tolerance is a significant step towards complete tolerance.
- This approach is safe and prolongs graft function by preventing chronic rejection.
- Induction of partial tolerance creates an environment for graft acceptance under low-dose immunosuppression.