Transplantation autoimmunity: The rediscovery of self

Novel observations in the field highlight the importance of the early innate response to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the contribution of host immunologic memory in determining the graft outcome. Further research in this direction may lead to identification of common regulatory check-points that shape the host anti-graft response, and thus may potentiate development of feasible and cost-effective therapies. Better understanding of the different pathways of anti-graft immunity may help to identify the genetic basis of pathologic immune reactions in transplant patients.