Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) expression in biliary epithelial cells is associated with allograft acceptance in liver-kidney transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Liver allograft is known to protect simultaneously transplanted organs from acute rejection. We have reported that only 6% of combined liver-kidney recipients, versus 32.5% of kidney recipients, develop kidney graft acute rejection. Release of soluble human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules by the liver has been proposed as a possible tolerogenic mechanism involved in the better acceptance of double transplants. The HLA-G molecule is acknowledged to possess tolerogenic properties.


METHODS
We investigated the involvement of HLA-G in allogeneic transplant acceptance by analyzing its expression in kidney and liver biopsies of 40 combined transplanted patients.


RESULTS
We demonstrate the presence of HLA-G in 14 out of 40 liver and five out of nine kidney transplants biopsies. HLA-G is expressed de novo by cells that are otherwise frequently susceptible target cells of acute rejection, i.e. liver biliary and renal tubular epithelial cells. We show a significant association between HLA-G expression in liver biliary epithelial cells and the absence of liver graft rejection. No acute or chronic rejection of the kidney graft was observed in patients in whom HLA-G was expressed in the liver graft.


CONCLUSIONS
HLA-G expression in the liver allograft is associated with a lower frequency of hepatic and renal acute rejection and may be involved in the acceptance of simultaneously transplanted organs.
Créput
Caroline
C
Hemato-immunology Research Institute, CEA Laboratory, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Département de Recherche Médicale, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Institut Universitaire d'Hématologie, Saint-Louis Hospital, 75010 Paris Cedex 10, France.
Durrbach
Antoine
A
Menier
Catherine
C
Guettier
Catherine
C
Samuel
Didier
D
Dausset
Jean
J
Charpentier
Bernard
B
Carosella
Edgardo D
ED
Rouas-Freiss
Nathalie
N
D000328:Adult; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I