Research Group

  • Dr Li Zhang, Principal Investigator

Location

  • University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA

Title

  • Integrin Mac-1 on Antigen-Presenting Cells Is Key to the Development of Peripheral Immune Tolerance

Organ rejection remains the major risk for patients with organ transplantation. Non-specific suppression of the immune system by drugs like cyclosporine, though very effective, does cause many complications, which adversely affect the quality-of-life of transplant recipients. In this regard, antigen-specific immune tolerance has a great potential in clinical settings to improve the quality-of-life of patients with transplantation and promote the survival of the transplanted organs.

The long-term goal of the proposed study is to understand the mechanism that differentially controls antigen-specific immune activation versus immune suppression. Specific to this application, we propose to study the role of a major surface molecule (termed integrin Mac-1) on antigen-presenting cells in the development of antigen-specific peripheral tolerance. Completion of this project will provide important information regarding the role of this important molecule in the development of antigen-specific immune tolerance. Delineation of the molecular processes required for generation of antigen-specific immune suppression may offer novel therapeutic targets for enhancing immune suppression that will be beneficial to organ transplantation, and prolong the survival of the transplanted organs.

Final Report

Related content