Molecular mechanisms of chronic rejection following transplantation.

Although significant advances have been made in the field of organ transplantation, chronic rejection remains a major limiting factor for prolonged graft survival. The long-term survival and function of transplanted lungs are limited by the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). The 10-yr lung graft survival rate is only 18.6%. Aside from results of several clinical studies that strongly support the concept that BOS results from alloimmune-mediated injury, little is known regarding specific immune effectors or target molecules involved in the pathogenesis of BOS. Studies from our laboratory have provided evidence for the seminal role of CD4+ T-cells in the pathogenesis of obliterative airway disease (OAD) seen in BOS. Prior to any clinically detectable lesions, there is indirect antigen presentation of mismatched major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen and production of antibodies to these MHC antigens. Both MHC and minor histocompatibility antigen disparities can result in the development of OAD in animal models and preliminary results strongly suggest that peptide vaccination strategies may prevent OAD following heterotopic tracheal transplants. Using a newly developed orthotopic tracheal transplant model, we have obtained evidence for an important and probably exclusive role for airway epithelial cell injury as a primary mechanism for the immunopathogenesis of the development of OAD.