Induction of specific tolerance to small-bowel allografts.

Background: The induction of specific tolerance would greatly improve survival and functional state of organ transplant recipients. One approach that has recently received attention is the creation of mixed hematopoietic chimerism through the transplantation of allogeneic and syngeneic T-cell-depleted (TCD) bone marrows. In these studies we examined whether tolerance to highly immunogenic small-bowel transplants could be induced by mixed allogeneic chimerism.

Identification of an autoantibody to vascular endothelial cell-specific antigens in patients with systemic vasculitis.

Purpose: Although immunologic mechanisms have been postulated in the pathogenesis of vasculitis, an autoimmune process directed against specific autologous vascular wall antigens has not been previously documented. We examined the role of an immunologic response to vascular endothelial cell (VEC) antigens in patients with vasculitis, because of the observed immunogenicity of VECs in renal and cardiac allograft recipients.

Patients And Methods: The study patients included 21 with systemic vasculitis and four with hypersensitivity vasculitis.