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Project

Translational research on chronic rejection after lung transplantation.

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), the clinical correlate of chronic rejection, is the principal cause of late morbidity, mortality and excessive use of health-care resources following lung transplantation (LTx).  Several allo-immune (e.g. acute rejection) and non allo-immune risk factors (e.g. air pollution, infection) are known to be involved in the onset of CLAD, yet the exact pathophysiological mechanisms, however, remain incompletely understood. One of the main pathophysiological pathways assumed to be involved is respiratory epithelial injury, which initiates an inflammatory cascade, followed by an (exaggerated) fibro-proliferative response leading to fibrous scarring of the small airways, resulting in lung allograft dysfunction; and if progressive, respiratory failure. In our research project, we investigate the risk factors and mechanisms leading to and driving this airway inflammation and scarring process, as well as novel preventive and treatment options for this devastating condition, since appropriate therapeutic strategies are currently lacking. This will be performed via clinical intervention studies (e.g. azithromycin, pirfenidone, photopheresis, etc.), epidemiologic studies, biobank analyses, in vitro research using human airway cells and a murine lung transplant model. The overall aim of this project is to improve the long term outcome after LTx; i.e. to reduce CLAD-related morbidity, mortality and use of health-care resources.

Date:1 Oct 2015 →  30 Sep 2020
Keywords:transplantation
Disciplines:Respiratory medicine