Innate and adaptive immune cells associate with arteriovenous fistula maturation and failure

Creation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) causes local injury, resulting in immune response of the body and infiltration of immune cells. Acute inflammation is favorable to control inflammation and proceed AVF toward maturation while chronic inflammation in AVF leads to AVF maturation failure. Chronic inflammation in AVF is due to chronic infiltration of immune cells and secretion of inflammatory cytokines. A balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory response is a must for AVF maturation and an overwhelmed proinflammatory infiltrate causes chronic inflammation and AVF failure. As immune cell infiltration plays a critical role in maturation and failure of AVF, it is important to investigate the role of immune cells as well as their density in early and late phase of AVF maturation. The role of inflammation has been discussed in the literature and this review article focuses on the role of pro- and anti-inflammatory immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), T-cells, and T-regulatory (Treg) cells in AVF maturation and maturation failure.