title: Natural anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis.
abstract: Anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies (anti-Gal) seemingly mediate rejection of pig organs transplanted into humans and Old World monkeys. These natural antibodies appear to be produced by a subpopulation of B cells residing in the peritoneum. Therefore, peritoneal dialysis (PD) may have an impact on anti-Gal levels. In this cross-sectional study, blood anti-Gal levels were quantified by ELISA in 17 patients undergoing PD and 18 patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), and the results were compared with those from a control group of 30 healthy blood donors. The effects of the mode of dialysis therapy and other epidemiologic variables on anti-Gal levels were also evaluated. The PD and HD patients were comparable with regards to age, sex, percentage having diabetes, time on dialysis, distribution of blood groups, and total serum levels of immunoglobulins A (IgA), G (IgG), and M (IgM). In patients and controls, IgG anti-Gal levels were not significantly different, but IgM anti-Gal levels were significantly lower in both PD and HD patients compared with controls. A nonsignificant trend toward lower IgM anti-Gal levels in PD patients compared with HD patients was also observed. IgG anti-Gal levels correlated positively with time on dialysis in the HD patients, but not in the PD patients. IgG anti-Gal levels also were found to be markedly elevated in three patients with chronic liver disease, but no other scrutinized variable appeared to influence IgG or IgM anti-Gal levels.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Hospital Juan Canalejo, A Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez Fontán
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Máñez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Carmona
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D005690:Galactose / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D005690:Galactose