Vascularized organ transplants often fail because of smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation in the intima of graft arteries, leading to progressive lumenal narrowing and resultant ischemic damage. Graft arterial disease is caused by IFN-γ secreted by alloreactive T cells. New evidence indicates that IFN-γ dysregulates expression of the enzymes eNOS and iNOS in graft-infiltrating leukocytes. Dysregulated NO synthase expression occurs prior to and is causally linked to intimal smooth muscle cell accumulation.
