Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Murine Heterotopic Heart Transplant Technique
Published on: July 8, 2014
Cell mediated rejection
Kathryn J Wood1, Masaaki Zaitsu, Ryoichi Goto
1Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Rejection is the major barrier to successful transplantation and usually results from the integration of multiple mechanisms. Activation of elements of the innate immune system, triggered as a consequence of tissue injury sustained during cell isolation or organ retrieval as well as ischemia-reperfusion, will initiate and amplify the adaptive response. For cell mediated rejection, T cells require multiple signals for activation, the minimum being two signals; antigen recognition and costimulation. The majority of B cells require help from T cells to initiate alloantibody production. Antibodies reactive to donor HLA molecules, minor histocompatibility antigens, endothelial cells, red blood cells, or autoantigens can trigger or contribute to rejection early as well as late after transplantation.
Rejection is the major barrier to successful transplantation and usually results from the integration of multiple mechanisms. Activation of elements of the innate immune system, triggered as a consequence of tissue injury sustained during cell isolation or organ retrieval as well as ischemia-reperfusion, will initiate and amplify the adaptive response. For cell mediated rejection, T cells require multiple signals for activation, the minimum being two signals; antigen recognition and costimulation. The majority of B cells require help from T cells to initiate alloantibody production. Antibodies reactive to donor HLA molecules, minor histocompatibility antigens, endothelial cells, red blood cells, or autoantigens can trigger or contribute to rejection early as well as late after transplantation.
Related Concept Videos
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Tissue Transplantation
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cytolytic Reactions
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...