Targeting of natural killer cells by rabbit antithymocyte globulin and campath-1H: similar effects independent of specificity.

T cell depleting strategies are an integral part of immunosuppressive regimens widely used in the hematological and solid organ transplant setting. Although it is known to induce lymphocytopenia, little is known about the effects of the polyclonal rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) or the monoclonal anti-CD52 antibody alemtuzumab on Natural Killer (NK) cells in detail. Here, we demonstrate that induction therapy with rATG following kidney/pancreas transplantation results in a rapid depletion of NK cells.

Heme oxygenase-1 ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion injury by targeting dendritic cell maturation and migration.

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) has a major impact on short- and long-term renal allograft survival by increasing graft immunogenicity. Donor preconditioning by inducing heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) has been proven to exert cytoprotective and antiinflammatory effects on the graft, thus resulting in reduced graft immunogenicity. The study analyzed the effects and mechanisms of HO-1-mediated cytoprotection in rat kidney transplants exposed to cold preservation.