Composition and method for ex vivo immunomodulation and/or preservation of organs, methods and use

The present invention provides a composition for modulating MARCH-I, MHC II and/or CD86 in the cells of an ex vivo organ, that is to say an organ taken from a donor for subsequent transplantation in a recipient. In one embodiment, the composition comprises one or more organ preservation solutions in combination with an Hsp. In another embodiment, the composition of the invention comprises Hsp70 and/or one or more synthetic Hsp70-derived peptides. The composition of the invention provides preservation while at the same time reducing rejection of an organ, thus offering many advantages and solving various relevant technical problems: not only preserving the useful life of the organ but also initiating a process in the organ which inhibits acute rejection; lengthening the useful life of the organ in vivo; having local immunomodulating effects in the recipient; having an indirect impact on the quality of life of the transplant recipient by necessitating fewer immunossuppressive medications; inducing the activity