Immunology of organ transplantation

Abstract

The major hurdle to successful transplantation is immune-mediated rejection, a process that has been partially prevented through the use of potent immunosuppressive medications. Understanding the basis of transplant immunology is required to comprehend the role of the tissue typing laboratory in managing potential transplant recipients to understand the mechanisms of immunosuppression and to be able to appropriately detect and diagnose acute or chronic rejection. The goal of this chapter is to give general overview of the components of the immune system, recognition of alloantigen, and cellular and humoral immune response, focusing on those aspects that are important to understand the logic behind the clinical use of immunosuppressive drugs. We then outline clinically relevant organ specific differences and clinical applications of transplant immunology. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.