Definition of "immunosuppression" [immunosuppression]

• Suppression of the immune response, as by drugs or radiation, in order to prevent the rejection of grafts or transplants or to control autoimmune diseases. Also called immunodepression. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "But the biggest issues are going to be the long-term immunosuppression to keep the face from being rejected."
• "However, while the results of organ transplantation are commonly life-saving, resulting in a return to a normal or near-normal life-style and development, this typically entails long-term maintenance immunosuppression."
• "Recognizing that any maintenance drug therapy, especially involving powerful agents like those used for immunosuppression, carries certain risks, our research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of induction and persistence of transplant tolerance, such that ultimately transplant recipients will require little or no ongoing drug therapy."