INDIRECT ALLORECOGNITION OF MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX ALLOPEPTIDES IN HUMAN RENAL TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS WITH CHRONIC GRAFT DYSFUNCTION1

Abstract

These data demonstrate for the first time that T cells of patients with chronic graft dysfunction are primed to recognize and respond to specific donor-derived major histocompatibility complex allopeptides. Our results support the hypothesis that T cells primed via the indirect pathway of allorecognition may be important mediators of chronic rejection and provide the rationale to develop specific therapeutic strategies to prevent or interrupt this process.