A patient who has received a heart transplant has been given an order for drugs that block T cell activity. What is the rationale behind this order?

Question

A) To manufacture antibodies to the foreign proteins
B) To stimulate wound healing
C) To combine with a complement to cause a massive inflammatory reaction
D) To prevent an inflammatory reaction against the transplanted heart

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
Effector or cytotoxic T cells are aggressive against non–self-cells, releasing cytokines that can either directly destroy a foreign cell or mark it for aggressive destruction. If the transplanted organ is attacked by cytokines, it will be destroyed, referred to as "organ rejection." As a result, inhibition of these killer T cells is essential to continued organ function in the transplanted organ. Blocking T cells would not manufacture antibodies, stimulate wound healing, or trigger a massive inflammatory response.