[Cytomegalovirus infection and allograft rejection]

Allograft rejection and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections are two major complications of allotransplantation. HCMV infection could promote allograft rejection through different mechanisms including the production of several proinflammatory cytokines, increased expression of major histocompatibility complex and adhesion molecules, and molecular mimicry. Similarly immune activation occurring during allograft rejection, its treatment and its prevention budget increases rates of HCMV disease. A better understanding of the links between allograft rejection and HCMV infection is necessary to develop new preventative or curative therapeutic approaches which could improve allotransplantation results in humans.