Human Leukocyte Antigen-G and Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy

By Amelia G. Mociornita

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), a non-classical MHC I protein, plays an essential role in immune tolerance and is associated with a lower incidence of graft rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). To examine the pattern of HLA-G expression post-transplantation we determined that HLA-G can be up-regulated in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) following exposure to everolimus. We also determined that HLA-G at 500 and 1000 ng/ml reduces SMC proliferation. In further studies, treatment with HLA-G inhibited TNFα-stimulated neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells (ECs) at all concentrations tested (0.1-1 ng/ml), suggesting a role in inflammation. The expression of HLA-G is influenced by a polymorphism in the HLA-G gene. We sought to determine if the 14bp insertion/deletion polymorphism can predict the development of CAV. There was no association between this polymorphism and CAV; however, this study had a small number of patients; therefore further investigations are needed to confirm these findings.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3659592943
• ISBN13: 9783659592942
• Release Date: November 2014
• Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"