Organ Rejection Possibility May End With Killer White Blood Cells

A type of killer white blood cell, scientists reveal, could make organ rejection by the body history.

The cells suppress the immune response in the livers of mice, without affecting the rest of the immune system.

Plasma-Turned-Gel Can Neutralize Organ Rejection
Blood plasma, removed and turned into a gel-like substance, can help neutralize organ rejection.

Marta Monteiro and colleagues at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, found that these cells could be used to create immune-tolerant organs for transplant.

According to New Scientist, the team studied mice protected from the animal equivalent of multiple sclerosis by natural killer T-cells (NKT), the class of white blood cell, which helps to control the immune system.

They found that NKT cells that have a gene that controls so-called regulatory T-cells, whose role is to suppress the immune response.

Molecule Holds Key in Avoiding Organ Rejection
In a rodent study, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia Center for Molecular Chaperone/Radiobiology and Cancer Virology have identified an immune system molecule called HLA-G

When injected into mice, the NKTreg cells headed straight for the liver, where they suppressed immune function.

"Using these new cells we might achieve organ acceptance in liver transplants, without touching the remaining immune system," said co-author Luis Graca.

Breakthrough Procedure To Help Prevent Organ Rejection
Introducing bone marrow from an organ donor allowed kidney transplant recepients to be weaned of the intense immunosuppressant drugs usually needed to prevent organ rejection.

The study is published in the Journal of Immunology.

Source-ANI