US2 Inhibition of HLA-DRa in a Human Skin Transplant Model

Abstract

The aim of this project is to investigate the effects of I-1LA-DRa inhibition in a human skin transplant model. The E-ILA-DRa protein is a component of MI-IC class II and is involved in presenting antigens to CD4+ T cells which leads to further activation of the immune system against a foreign graft. Human skin will be transplanted to immunodeficient mice which have been injected with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. An adenovirus vector carrying LJS2 gene whose protein has been implicated in inhibiting HLA-DRa will be generated. The humanized mice will be infected with the adenovirus vector and monitored for graft survival.