Gewebeabstoßungen

Gewebeabstoßungen, also known as transplant rejection, is a complex immunological process that occurs when a recipient's immune system recognizes a transplanted organ or tissue as foreign and attacks it. This is a significant challenge in organ transplantation, despite advances in medical science.

The immune system's primary role is to defend the body against pathogens. When a transplant is introduced, immune cells, particularly T cells, identify the foreign tissue's surface molecules, known as antigens, as non-self. This triggers an immune response, leading to inflammation and damage to the transplanted organ. There are several types of rejection: hyperacute rejection occurs within minutes to hours of transplantation and is usually due to pre-existing antibodies; acute rejection typically happens within days to months and is mediated by T cells; and chronic rejection develops over months to years, leading to gradual organ dysfunction.

To prevent or manage Gewebeabstoßungen, immunosuppressive medications are administered to the recipient. These drugs work by suppressing the activity of the immune system, thereby reducing the likelihood of it attacking the transplanted organ. However, these medications also increase the recipient's susceptibility to infections and other side effects. Ongoing research aims to develop more targeted therapies that can specifically suppress the response to the transplant without compromising the entire immune system, as well as exploring methods to induce immune tolerance towards the transplanted organ.