Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Lung Transplantation

In conclusion, circulating MDSCs are measurable, functional and have a G-MDSC phenotype in lung transplant patients. Their frequency is increased in stable patients, decreased during post-transplant complications, and related to level of immunosuppression. This study may pave the way for further investigations of MDSC in the context of lung transplantation. Introduction From a transplant immunological point of view, graft acceptance is the fundamental element in allograft survival. Graft acceptance is realized by blocking the immune system with immunosuppression preventing host immune cells to recognized and attack the “non-self” donor (lung) tissue. Immune regulatory cells are thought to play a major role in the balance between graft acceptance and chronic rejection. Most attention has gone to natural and inducible FoxP3 positive regulatory T cells (Treg) (1). Immune regulation and graft acceptance, however, encompasses many more cells including regulatory B cells, regulatory dendritic cells and innate regulatory cells like the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which were introduced 10 years ago by Gabrilovich et al., MDSCs were initially described as a heterogeneous group of immune cells from the myeloid lineage with a potent immune-regulatory activity (2). In the last few years, more insights into the nature and biological role of MDSCs have been reported and consequently MDSCs have emerged as a universal regulator of immune function in many...
Source: Frontiers in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research