title: Expression of MHC class I and II molecules by cadaver retinal pigment epithelium cells: optimization of post-mortem HLA typing.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of MHC antigens by retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) after stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and to improve the currently practised technique of cadaver HLA typing. A concentration of 100 U/ml IFN-gamma induced expression of class I molecules up to greater than 90% 3 days after stimulation, whereas 50 U/ml were required for the expression of HLA-DR to greater than 90%. A concentration of 750 U/ml induced 35-45% expression of HLA-DP and less than 25% HLA-DQ after 3 days. Cells were serologically typed using the standard lymphocytotoxicity assay 3 days after stimulation with 250 U/ml IFN-gamma. Typing of class I specificities was complemented by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (1D-IEF). We observed high concordance between the results of the RPE typing and the lymphocytotoxicity test on the same donors. Our results show complete typing of class I and II antigens post-mortem, which, in particular, enables graft matching and improvement of graft survival in recipients of organs removed many hours after death such as the cornea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zavazava
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halene
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nölle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duncker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eckstein
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harpprecht
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Müller-Ruchholtz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007371:Interferon-gamma