Characterization of immune responses to cardiac self-antigens myosin and vimentin in human cardiac allograft recipients with antibody-mediated rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy

The presence of DSA in AMR and CAV is significantly associated with development of Abs to MYO and VIM in post-HTx patients. Induction of high CD4+ Th cells specific to cardiac self-antigens that secrete predominantly IL-5 and IL-17 plays a significant role in the development of Abs to self-antigens leading to AMR and CAV, respectively.