American Journal of Transplantation

This Month in AJT

Welcome to the May edition of the American Journal of Transplantation. This month’s edition of AJT presents several articles that align along the spectrum from drug discovery to clinical trial validation. Beginning with the recognition of a clinical problem worthy of attack we present a Meeting Report, in which authors from the United States Food and Drug Administration summarize a recent conference on ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in which the clinical problem is highlighted along with recommendations for drug development to treat or prevent the effects of IRI. Drug and pathway discovery is highlighted in an article from the Heeger lab unveiling the immunosuppressive effects of the Chinese herb Qu Mai, and in a fascinating study from King’s College, London describing the coordinated expression of microRNA manifest during liver regeneration. The latter project makes elegant use of a unique group of patients undergoing partial liver transplantation as a bridge to native liver recovery. Two pilot studies are detailed investigating the initial application of normothermic ex vivo perfusion in kidney and liver preservation, respectively. The results of two clinical trials investigating the drug everolimus are reported, detailing the performance of the drug in a heart transplant setting. In addition to our investigative science features, our regular features—The AJT Report, Literature Watch, Reports From the CDC, and Images in Transplantation—keep you informed with up-to-date information and educational content. Finally, as a nod to history, check out a fascinating letter detailing the findings of the first transplant kidney biopsy ever performed.