Use of monoclonal antibodies in human transplantation

Monoclonal antibodies are of growing importance in human organ transplantation in the prophylatic and curative treatment of cellular rejection. Among the pan T-lymphocyte monoclonal antibodies, OKT3 has been much studied, although clinical research is engaged with more selective targets of allorecognition and/or their consequences, for example monoclonal antibodies directed against the interleukin-2 receptor, adhesion molecules and CD4 molecules. We summarize the use of these monoclonal antibodies and bioreagents in clinical transplantation.