[Effector mechanisms of graft rejection]

The rejection of an allograft is a complex phenomenon involving various subsets of immune cells. If the role of humoral immunity and cytotoxic T cells is well demonstrated, helper T cells have also a major effect in some models of allograft destruction. Moreover, Natural Killer cells, Killer cells, monocytes/macrophages, B lymphocytes are also implicated in various stages of graft rejection. The analysis of the clonal repertoire of T lymphocytes, the discovery of the structure and function of the T-cell receptor and finally the genetic control by encoded genes of the immune response may lead to a better comprehensive and therapeutic approach of graft rejection.