Abstract 110

Abstract

Introduction: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition of allogeneic MHC1-complexed epitopes is a defining mechanism of acute allograft rejection. Lifelong systemic immunosuppression achieves allograft tolerance through global CTL reduction, but carries significant morbidity. As an alternate route to tolerance, we propose to impair the CTL response via removal of MHC1 within the allograft vasculature. Using an ex vivo approach, we examined the impact of "tolerizing" the allograft endothelium through MHC1-knockdown in an established CTA model.