Transplantation Immunology

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our body's immune system usually protects you from substances that may be harmful, such as germs, poisons, and sometimes, cancer cells. These harmful substances have proteins called antigens coating their surfaces. As soon as these antigens enter the body, the immune system recognizes that they are not from that person's body and that they are "foreign," and attacks them. When a person receives an organ from someone else during transplant surgery, that person's immune system may recognize that it is foreign. This is because the person's immune system detects that the antigens on the cells of the organ are different or not "matched." Mismatched organs, or organs that are not matched closely enough, can trigger a blood transfusion reaction or transplant rejection. …show more content…

Alternative Names Graft rejection; Tissue/organ rejection References Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pillai S. Transplantation immunology. In: Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pillai S, eds. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 17. Adams AB, Kirk AD, Larsen CP. Transplantation immunobiology and immunosuppression. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 19th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 26. Wood K, Shankar S, Mittal S. Concepts and challenges in organ transplantation. In: Rich RR, Fleisher TA, Shearer WT, et al, eds. Clinical Immunology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2013:chap 81. Update Date 4/30/2015 Updated by: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Browse the Encyclopedia Related MedlinePlus Health Topics Organ Transplantation Images AntibodiesAntibodies Read More Graft-versus-host disease Immune

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