ROLE OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS IN THE ALLOGRAFT-RESPONSE

Following transplantation endothelial cells lining an allograft come into contact with immune cells of the recipient. Activation of an immune response, by graft endothelial or other cells, will lead to local increases in cytokine production and cell-mediated lysis. Inflammatory cytokines have been shown, mainly in vitro, to have marked effects on endothelial function and act to produce a pro-thrombotic, pro-adhesive and pro-mitogenic phenotype. These data are reviewed and ways in which these changes could lead to rejection due to graft lysis or vascular occlusion are discussed.