are immunosuppression regimens working?
Alveolar macrophages are a major source of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines involved in the pathogenesis of lung transplant rejection and are derived from blood monocytes that migrate to the lung. Levels of monocyte cytokines and chemokines that may be relevant in transplant rejection have not previously been determined in transplant recipients. We hypothesized that production of these inflammatory mediators by blood monocytes may be up-regulated despite the use of potent immunosuppression therapy.