Immunological graft rejection and the vascular endothelial cell

RESUMO

Rejection is still the major cause of organ loss in transplantation. This process involves an immune response of the patient (recipient) against hystocompatibility antigens of the donor, present in the transplanted organ. Nevertheless, improvements in the evaluation of the humoral status of recipients and new immunosuppressive therapies have brought new insights into the factors involved in early rejection. Another important area in transplantation immunology is the participation of vascular endothelial cells, either as targets or as active agents of the rejection process. Humoral responses against antigens specific to endothelial cells, and absent in lymphocytes, have been associated with acute graft loss. These different aspects of transplant rejection are discussed.