title: The identification of HL-A antigens on fresh and cultured human endothelial cells.
abstract: Human endothelial cells were obtained from the umbilical cord veins of 16 newborns by methods previously described and tested for HL-A antigens by a microcytotoxicity method. HL-A antigens were present on all endothelial cell lines tested. When the HL-A phenotypes of fresh endothelial cells and autologous fetal lymphocytes were compared, a concordance of 70% was observed. When the HL-A phenotypes of maternal lymphocytes and fresh endothelial cells were compared, a maternal contribution to the endothelial cell phenotype was evident in 72% of the possible commmon antigens. Some HL-A antigens were deleted from 11 of 16 endothelial cell lines that were re-typed after 2 weeks in tissue culture. The majority (90%) of deleted antigens were from the second HL-A locus. When three lines of endothelials cells were again re-typed after 6 weeks in culture, no further changes in antigenicity were noted. These findings: a) demonstrate that HL-A antigens are present on human endothelium and suggest that endothelial cells are actively involved in establishing the immunogenicity of a graft, and b) demonstrate that the HL-A antigens on human endothelial cells may be modulated by in vitro culture.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004727:Endothelium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003012:Microbial Collagenase; D011247:Pregnancy; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000098:blood supply
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D003012:Microbial Collagenase