Editorial: Immune monitoring in solid organ transplantation

Solid organ transplantation is inevitably associated with the activation of the immune system of the graft recipient. An advanced knowledge of the immunological mechanisms leading to acute and chronic rejection, the advent of powerful immunosuppressive drugs, and refined surgical techniques have made solid organ transplantation a standard therapy to replace irretrievable loss of vital functions. The immune system is a complex network involving immune cells, cytokines, chemokines, antibodies, and the complement system. Monitoring and ideally influencing the allo-response of the organ recipient against the donor antigens may help to personalize the immunosuppressive therapy including the disclosure of those patients who are suitable for weaning or even discontinuation of immunosuppression. Immune monitoring comprises as plethora of candidate biomarkers capable of reflecting the donor specific and non-donor specific net activation state of the immune system in transplant recipients both before and after initiation of the immunosuppressive therapy. This special issue of Clinical Biochemistry on Immune Monitoring addresses the basic effects of immune activation in solid organ transplantation and critically reviews candidate biomarkers for immune monitoring and their analytical as well as clinical performance.