Site-specific immunosuppression in vascularized composite allotransplantation: prospects and potential

Clin Dev Immunol. 2013:2013:495212. doi: 10.1155/2013/495212. Epub 2013 Feb 13.

Abstract

Skin is the most immunogenic component of a vascularized composite allograft (VCA) and is the primary trigger and target of rejection. The skin is directly accessible for visual monitoring of acute rejection (AR) and for directed biopsy, timely therapeutic intervention, and management of AR. Logically, antirejection drugs, biologics, or other agents delivered locally to the VCA may reduce the need for systemic immunosuppression with its adverse effects. Topical FK 506 (tacrolimus) and steroids have been used in clinical VCA as an adjunct to systemic therapy with unclear beneficial effects. However, there are no commercially available topical formulations for other widely used systemic immunosuppressive drugs such as mycophenolic acid, sirolimus, and everolimus. Investigating the site-specific therapeutic effects and efficacy of systemically active agents may enable optimizing the dosing, frequency, and duration of overall immunosuppression in VCA with minimization or elimination of long-term drug-related toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Compounding
  • Graft Rejection / etiology
  • Graft Rejection / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / trends
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control*
  • Skin Transplantation*
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use*
  • Transplantation, Homologous / immunology

Substances

  • Tacrolimus