Research Group
- Dr. Claude Daniel, Principal Investigator
Location
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Canada
Title
- The Role of Histocompatibility Antigens in the Regulation of Allograft Rejection
After organ transplantation, the recipient immune system is activated by differences between self and donor histocompatibility antigens, which is defined as alloreactivity. This alloreactivity is still a major hindrance to the success of organ transplantation. Host effector T cells can recognize the donor histocompatibility antigens either directly as intact molecules, or indirectly after presentation by self antigen-presenting cells. These two pathways imply different routes of activation of the recipient immune system and different mediators of graft rejection. Furthermore, numerous studies have demonstrated the crucial role played by cytotoxic T cells and antibodies in acute rejection. Their contribution to chronic rejection remain however to be confirmed.
The goal of our research program is to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for graft rejection following T cell activation by direct and indirect alloreactivity pathways. A better understanding of these mechanisms will facilitate the design and the discovery of drugs and therapies that can more specifically interfere with graft rejection.