Application of cell-based therapies in facial transplantation.

Abstract

The main purpose of cellular therapy application in face transplantation is the continuous need for the development of new strategies that would eliminate the use of toxic immunosuppressive protocols. Cellular therapy in transplantation can significantly benefit allograft survival and shorten healing time. Cells used for a therapeutic purpose are isolated mostly from bone marrow and adipose tissues. They have the ability to proliferate and differentiate in the transplanted tissue and have immunomodulatory activity. Most of the cellular therapies such as T-regulatory, dendritic, and chimeric cells are still in the experimental stage. Molecular characterization of these cells and the mechanism of their participation in allograft acceptance and rejection are not well established and will contribute to the future of modern transplantology.