title: Soluble HLA-G in heart transplantation: their relationship to rejection episodes and immunosuppressive therapy.
abstract: The aims of this study were to quantify the level of soluble HLA-G in heart transplant patients, to determine the relationship between the sHLA-G levels and the appearance of acute rejection episodes, and to identify the influence of immunosuppressive therapy on sHLA-G levels. Analysis of sHLA-G, measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the transplant patients, revealed the existence of two similarly sized groups of patients. One group displayed a significant increase (p < 0.001) in sHLA-G during the first month after transplantation while the other group maintained low levels of the molecule (0-30 ng/ml) throughout the study. The latter group displayed a high incidence of recurrent severe rejection. A significant increase (p < 0.01) in sHLA-G 2 hours after administration of immunosuppressive treatment (mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine A/FK506, corticoids) was found. These results suggest that sHLA-G participates in the induction of certain levels of immunological tolerance in these recipients.
authors.affiliation: Service of Immunology, Reina Sofía University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Aumente
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Jurado
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López-Rubio
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alvarez-López
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arizón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peña
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents