Transplant and Immunology

INTRODUCTION

INTERLEUKINS

Name the cells of origin and functions of the following interleukins:

Interleukin-1

• Mononuclear phagocytes, T and B cells, NK cells, fibroblasts, neutrophils, smooth muscle cells

• Proliferation of T and B cells; fever, inflammation; endothelial cell activation; increases liver protein synthesis

Interleukin-2

• Activated T cells

• T-cell growth factor, cytotoxic T-cell generation; B-cell proliferation/differentiation; growth/activation of NK cells

Interleukin-4

• CD4+ T cells, mast cells

• B-cell activation/differentiation, T- and mast-cell growth factor

Interleukin-5

• T cells

• Eosinophil proliferation/activation

Interleukin-6

• Mononuclear phagocytes, T cells, endothelial cells

• B-cell proliferation/differentiation; T-cell activation; increases liver acute-phase reactants; fever, inflammation

Interleukin-8

• Lymphocytes, monocytes, multiple other cell types

• Stimulates granulocyte activity, chemotactic activity; potent angiogenic factor

Interleukin-10

• Mononuclear phagocyte, T cells

• B-cell activation/differentiation, inhibition, mononuclear phagocytes

Interleukin-12

• Mononuclear phagocytes, dendritic cells

• IFN-γ synthesis, T-cell cytolytic function, CD4+ T-cell differentiation

INTERFERONS AND OTHER CHEMOKINES

What cells produce interferon-γ and what are its functions?

• NK and T cells

• Increases expression of class I and class II MHC, activates macrophages and endothelial cells, augments NK activity, antiviral

What cells produce interferon-α and β and what are their functions?

• Mononuclear phagocyte-α; fibroblast-β

• Mononuclear phagocyte increases class I MHC expression, antiviral, NK-cell activation

What cells produce tumor necrosis factor-α and β and what are their functions?

• NK and T cells, mononuclear phagocyte

• B-cell growth/differentiation, enhance T-cell function, macrophage activator, neutrophil activator

What cells produce transforming growth factor-β and what are its functions?

• T cells, mononuclear phagocyte

• T-cell inhibition

What cells produce lymphotoxin and what are its functions?

• T cells

• Neutrophil activator, endothelial activation

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

What was the first effective clinical immunosuppressive maintenance regimen for the transplantation of solid organs? (It was introduced in 1962.)

• Azathioprine and corticosteroids

What 2 commercially available polyclonal lymphocyte-depleting agents are used for induction therapy?

• Horse anti-thymocyte globulin; rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (most commonly used)

What is OKT3?

• A very potent murine monoclonal antibody that ...