Transplantation medicine: Novel insights into immunosuppressive mechanism of ATG identified

Medicine & Science A team of researchers at MedUni Vienna has newly appraised the immunosuppressive effect of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and identified a previously unknown mode of action. The new findings on ATG, which are used for induction therapy prior to organ transplantations and for the treatment of T-cell mediated rejection reactions, provide a new approach for further improvements in transplantation medicine. The results of the study were recently published in Cells. ATG is an important therapeutic component in transplantation medicine. The effect of ATG is mediated by a complex interplay of several mechanisms, which include the direct inhibition and depletion of T cells, the induction of regulatory T cells and the modulation of dendritic cells. A research team led by first author Dragan Copic (Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Nephrology and Dialysis) and study leaders Hendrik Jan Ankersmit (Department of Thoracic Surgery) and Michael Mildner (Department of Dermatology) at MedUni Vienna investigated the role of ATG in the release of paracrine factors by examining blood cells in greater detail. Expanded understanding of ATG - The immunosuppressive effect of ATG is generally attributed to its T-cell depleting properties.