What is it about a transplanted organ that tells the body it’s foreign and doesn’t belong?
In: Biology
Every cell as little things on it that makes sure other cells can recognise them. These things are unique to everyone, kinda like our fingerprints. When your body gets cells with a different “cellprint” it assumes this is something that can make you sick and will destroy it. This helps with bacteria, viruses and parasites that causes us to be sick, but causes a problem when you get blood or an organ from someone else.
This is why it’s so important to “match” with the donar. The more similar these cellprints, the higher the change it will be successful, with blood type being the most commonly known. Even with a successful transplantation it will get rejected, it may just take longer, you’ll also get medication which effects the immune system so it won’t attack the new organ
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