Tolerance induction through mixed chimerism

Background: The induction of immunological tolerance towards the donor tissue would substantially improve outcome after organ transplantation. The establishment of mixed chimerism through the transplantation of donor bone marrow cells (BMC) is an experimental approach for tolerance induction with promising clinical potential. Permanent, robust donor-specific tolerance has been reliably achieved in various animal models of mixed chimerism. The possible toxicity of conventional bone marrow transplantation (BMT) protocols, however, has so far impeded widespread clinical application of mixed chimerism regimens.