DNA vaccines for transplantation

DNA vaccination for transplantation has been less investigated compared with DNA vaccines for infectious disease, cancer and pathological autoimmunity. However, the emerging role of transplant-induced autoimmunity in allograft rejection may lead to the development of new DNA vaccination approaches where peripheral delivery of an antigen shared by recipient and allograft could be used to prevent rejection of a given organ for large numbers of individuals. In addition, apoptosis-inducing DNA vaccines could further minimize the need to identify specific donor antigens for induction of tolerance by generating apoptotic cells carrying donor or recipient antigens depending on site of vaccine delivery.

The review covers DNA vaccination approaches that have been taken to prolong allograft survival in different animal model systems and their possible immune mechanisms and speculates on the future role of DNA vaccines for transplantation.

The review gives insight into how new DNA vaccination strategies might be developed to take into account recent development in allotransplantation.

DNA vaccination could reduce the need for systemic immunosuppressants and be applied to prevention of chronic rejection, which remains a major barrier to successful allotransplantation.