Immunoregulatory role of soluble HLA molecules: a new skin for an old subject?
The available evidence suggests that measurement of the level of total sHLA-1 antigens and of donor-derived and recipient-derived allospecificities as well as the characterization of their variants in recipient's serum may provide useful information to differentiate graft rejections from infections in allograft recipients. Moreover, a significant progress has been made in our understanding of the functional properties of sHLA-I antigens in serum and of their potential role in the modulation of immune responses. If these preliminary results will be confirmed, then sHLA-I antigens are likely to become important reagents to monitor and treat graft recipients.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy.
F
F
Puppo
M
M
Ghio
P
P
Contini
S
S
Brenci
D
D
Bignardi
G
G
Filaci
M
M
Scudeletti
F
F
Indiveri
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012995:Solubility
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I