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Alloreactivity and apoptosis in graft rejection and transplantation tolerance
Author(s) -
Zavazava Nicholas,
Kabelitz Dietrich
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.68.2.167
Subject(s) - biology , apoptosis , programmed cell death , transplantation , immunology , clonal deletion , graft rejection , organ transplantation , immune tolerance , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , t cell receptor , genetics , medicine
Weissmann wrote as early as 1889 that higher organisms contain within themselves the germs of death [1]. However, the term, programmed cell death, or apoptosis as it is now known, was defined much later [2]. Thus, it was long recognized that damaged and old cells are eliminated within the body, but the underlying mechanisms are only now beginning to emerge. Apoptosis appears central to the process of negative selection of developing T‐cells in the thymus. In regard to organ transplantation, apoptosis contributes to graft rejection and the establishment of graft tolerance. Thus, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of apoptosis may help establish a new protocol for the induction of transplantation tolerance.