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ABO‐incompatible allotransplantation as a basis for clinical xenotransplantation
Author(s) -
Stussi Georg,
West Lori,
Cooper David K. C.,
Seebach Jörg D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
xenotransplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.052
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1399-3089
pISSN - 0908-665X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3089.2006.00324.x
Subject(s) - xenotransplantation , allotransplantation , abo blood group system , transplantation , immunology , stem cell , hematopoietic stem cell , biology , medicine , haematopoiesis , genetics
The 8th Congress of the International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA), held in Goteborg in September, 2005, immediately followed the 2nd International Symposium on ABO‐Incompatibility in Transplantation, both congresses organized by Michael Breimer and Lennart Rydberg. The Proceedings of the Symposium on ABO‐Incompatibility in Transplantation have been published (Xenotransplantation 2006; 13 (2)). The present paper provides an overview of a workshop held at the 8th Congress of the IXA, and highlights the immunological concepts emerging from ABO‐incompatible allotransplants and discusses them in relation to xenotransplantation. Using specified immunomodulatory protocols, ABO‐incompatible solid organ allotransplantation has become a clinical reality for a small number of patients over the last two decades. ABO‐incompatible adult kidney and infant heart transplants have similar patient and graft survivals as their ABO‐compatible counterparts. In contrast, ABO‐incompatibility is present in up to 30% of all patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants in the absence of specific immunomodulation, without affecting overall survival. Consequently, ABO‐incompatible solid organ transplants and hematopoietic stem cell transplants may serve as in vivo models to elucidate the immunological mechanisms of accommodation and/or tolerance in the clinical setting. Because of similarities in the immunological hurdles that need to be overcome, knowledge obtained from ABO‐incompatible allotransplantation might further promote advances in the field of xenotransplantation. The similarities and differences between ABO‐incompatible allotransplantation and xenotransplantation are discussed.