Soluble HLA class I in epithelial lining fluid of lung transplants: associations with graft outcome.
We hypothesized that the small amounts of donor HLA-A and HLA-B proteins detected in the serum during organ allograft rejection are indicative of higher local releases within the graft itself. We determined the concentrations of total HLA class I (HLA-I) and, in selected cases, specific donor and host HLA-A and HLA-B proteins, in the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) sampled by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of lung transplant recipients (n = 37) and of normal controls (n = 25). We found that 1) HLA-I proteins were enriched in the lung ELF relative to other proteins; 2) the concentration of HLA-I in the ELF of well-functioning transplants was similar to that in normal lungs; 3) HLA-I proteins and total proteins were elevated in the ELF of patients who developed chronic rejection or refractory acute rejection; 4) the concentration of HLA-I was correlated with the percentage of neutrophils but not with the percentage of lymphocytes in the ELF of transplanted lungs; and 5) only the percentage of lymphocytes was elevated in the ELF of transplant patients with active CMV infections. Total HLA-I from the ELF was found to contain a mixture of both donor- and recipient-type HLA-A and HLA-B proteins and the donor-type HLA-A2 was found to be highly enriched in the ELF relative to serum.
DeVito-Haynes
L D
LD
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53729, U.S.A.
Jankowska-Gan
E
E
Heisey
D M
DM
Cornwell
R D
RD
Meyer
K C
KC
Love
R B
RB
Burlingham
W J
WJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils; D011379:Prognosis; D012995:Solubility
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I