Cytokines and T lymphocytes in transplantation : targets for immunotherapy

Organ transplantation has become an established therapy in patients suffering from diseases leading to organ failure. Table I shows the number of organ transplants performed in the Eurotransplant area from 1 g90 to 1993. The use of potent immunosuppressive drugs and effective protocols for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases have contributed to improved outcome of clinical organ transplantation. Nowadays, one-year patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation is 85 to 95 % (1). However, the potent immune response to transplanted tissues leading to acute graft rejection remains a major problem.

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