Molecular Biology of Hematopoiesis and Treatment of Myeloproliferative Diseases
Guest Editors: Nader G. Abraham, Valhalla, N.Y.; Shigetaka Asano, Tokyo; Alberto Donfrancesco, Rome; Susumu Ikehara, Osaka; J.G . Smith, Bath

Paper

Mixed Allogeneic Chimerism to Induce Tolerance to Solid Organ and Cellular Grafts
BeateG. Exner, IjeomaN. Acholonu, Marianne Bergheim, YvonneM. Mueller, SuzanneT. Ildstad

Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Acta Haematol 1999;101:78-81 (DOI: 10.1159/000040928)

  Key Words

• Bone marrow transplantation
• Facilitating cell
• Mixed allogeneic chimerism
• Tolerance

  Abstract

Transplantation of solid organs and cellular grafts has become clinical routine in the last 30 years. However, the requirement for life-long immunosuppression is associated with infections, malignancies and end-organ toxicity. Moreover, the treatment fails to prevent chronic rejection. The induction of donor-specific transplantation tolerance would solve these problems, but has remained an elusive goal. One approach to achieve transplantation tolerance is through hematopoietic chimerism. This review outlines different concepts of hematopoietic chimerism focusing on macrochimerism. Mixed allogeneic chimerism, also known as macrochimerism, is defined as engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells achieved by bone marrow transplantation (BMT). It discusses the advantages and limitations of the BMT as well as approaches to overcome these limitations in the future.

  Author Contacts

Suzanne T. Ildstad
Institute for Cellular Therapeutics
University of Louisville, 500 S. Ridgeway Ave.
Glenolden, PA 19036 (USA)
Tel. +1 610 237 7960, Fax +1 610 237 7773, E-Mail ildstads@wpo.auhs.edu

  Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 30