Immune rejection: current understanding and new solutions

Abstract

While organ transplantation has emerged as a successful treatment option for certain human diseases, failure to induce life-long graft tolerance remains the most significant obstacle to achieving optimal post-op outcomes. To better cope with this challenge, it is particularly important to understand and distinguish between the different mechanisms that induce graft rejection. After transplantation, host immune responses can be triggered by both stranger and danger signals. Genetic differences between individuals contribute to the identification of foreign entities by recipient immune cells. The recovery and preservation of organs lead to the cell stress or death, inducing inflammation and further aggravating graft damage. Herein, I aim to summarize the modern understanding of transplant immunology and compare the current medical scheme with innovative strategies. This review focuses on recent progresses in stem cell transplant and compiles technological breakthroughs to improve autologous iPSC therapeutics.