Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Solid organ transplantation, a major breakthrough in modern medicine, has saved countless patients with end-stage organ failure. However, immune rejection remains the primary obstacle to transplant success. As the central effector cells of adaptive immunity, T cells drive acute rejection by directly recognizing donor alloantigens (such as MHC molecules) or indirectly recognizing processed donor antigens presented by antigen-presenting cells. Recent studies have revealed the dual roles of distinct T cell subsets in rejection or tolerance: pro-inflammatory Th1, Th2, Th17, and CD8 + cytotoxic T cells(CTLs) exacerbate tissue damage by secreting cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-17, whereas regulatory T cells(Tregs) promote graft tolerance by suppressing effector T cell activation and maintaining immune homeostasis. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanisms of T cell-mediated rejection, functional heterogeneity among T cell subsets, and their differential impacts on various types of solid organ transplants.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology
Authors: Zixuan Zhang, Nian Zhao, Yanxia Miao, Yubao Sun, Chen Liu, Ning Cao, Chunping Liu, Yunlong Ding, Jun Li, Niannian Li
Institution: Weifang People's Hospital
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Award: G5356740307
OpenAlex ID: W7140517347