A need exists for biomarkers that can monitor transplant rejection. Now, Vallabhajosyula et al. show that, in a human-to-mouse xenogeneic islet transplant model, human exosomes (extracellular vesicles that are released by tissues) can be purified from the plasma of recipient mice. Moreover, islet rejection was associated with a marked reduction in the number of human exosomes. Importantly, donor kidney-specific exosomes were detected in five patients who underwent renal transplantation. The researchers propose that exosomes have potential as biomarkers of transplant rejection.
References
Vallabhajosyula, P. et al. Tissue-specific exosome biomarkers for noninvasively monitoring immunologic rejection of transplanted tissue. J. Clin. Invest. http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI87993 (2017)
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Starling, S. A new biomarker for transplant rejection?. Nat Rev Nephrol 13, 262 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2017.47
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2017.47