Immunology and principles of transplantation

Treatment of organ failure by transplantation has been established effectively over the past 50 years. The specific individuality of a patient is defined by the immune response, which has evolved for the sole function of maintaining a healthy body by combating infection and malignancy. The clinical need for transplantation has driven our understanding of the immune system and this has allowed effective immune manipulation, giving rise to transplant function and recipient longevity. All transplant recipients must receive long-term immunosuppression as tolerance inducing treatments are not yet practicable.