Changes in lymphatic endothelial cells during chronic allograft injury following renal transplantation

Kidney transplantation is becoming increasingly common, with 2,497 transplants having taken
place in the UK last year. Transplants are performed in cases where the kidneys are no longer able
to function sufficiently to keep the body alive, which can result from common conditions such as
diabetes mellitus or hypertension. 5% of transplants fail annually due to rejection of the kidneys in
the long term by the body; this research aims to determine whether the ‘lymphatics’ – a key
component in the immune system – are involved in long-term rejection, as they may be a possible
target for treatment of this condition.