IL-6 mediates numerous immunologic effects relevant to transplant rejection; however, its specific contributions to these processes are not fully understood. To this end, we neutralized IL-6 in settings of acute cardiac allograft rejection associated with either CD8(+) or CD4(+) cell-dominant responses. In a setting of CD8(+) cell-dominant graft rejection, IL-6 neutralization delayed the onset ...

The intravenous sensitization of C57BL/6 (B6) mice with class I H-2-disparate B6-C-H-2bm1 (bm1) spleen cells resulted in the abrogation of CD8+ T cell-mediated anti-bm1 (proliferative and interleukin 2-producing) T helper (Th) cell activities. In vitro stimulation of lymphoid cells from these mice with bm1 cells, however, generated a reduced, but appreciable, anti-bm1 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CT...

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term graft patency rate of the radial artery (RA), in comparison to the saphenous vein (SV) in patients harvested for both vessels. METHODS AND RESULTS RA and SV were concomitantly used for coronary artery bypass grafting in 318 patients in an 8-year period from January 2002 to March 2010. During follow-up, graft patency was asses...

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is an important cause of graft loss after organ transplantation. It is caused by anti-donor-specific antibodies especially anti-HLA antibodies. C4d had been regarded as a diagnosis marker for AMR. Although most early AMR episodes can be successfully controlled or reversed, late and chronic AMR remains the leading cause of late graft loss. The strategies which w...

In allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), donor T cell-mediated graft versus host leukemia (GVL) and graft versus autoimmune (GVA) activity play critical roles in treatment of hematological malignancies and refractory autoimmune diseases. However, graft versus host disease (GVHD), which sometimes can be fatal, remains a major obstacle in classical HCT, where recipients are conditi...

Detection of circulating antibodies directed against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules, which corresponds to the current definition ‘sensitized patient’, has been shown have a severe impact on both access transplantation and, if anti-HLA are specific selected donor, survival graft. However, not all donor-specific (DSA) equally harmful graft and progress in understanding humoral memory led...

OBJECTIVES Delayed graft function affects up to 50% of kidney transplant recipients. Some guidelines recommend surveillance biopsies beginning 7 days after engraftment. This may be unnecessary with anti-thymocyte globulin induction. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of deceased-donor renal transplant recipients with delayed graft function. RESULTS One hundred eleven p...

AIM OF THE STUDY To assess the biological activity of anti-CD34 antibody-coated ePTFE vascular prostheses. MATERIAL AND METHODS Indium(111)-labeled autologous thrombocytes were administered to 5 anesthetized pigs after the placement of femoral arterial and venous catheters. An arterio-venous fistula, created by the random interposition of 4 different ePTFE grafts (A = dry control, B = dry ant...