title: HLA-B35 upregulates the production of endothelin-1 in HLA-transfected cells: a possible pathogenetic role in pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: HLA-B35 is associated with an increased risk for developing isolated pulmonary hypertension (iPHT) in systemic sclerosis, but the mechanisms underlying this association have not been fully elucidated yet. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the main pathogenetic molecule implied in the development of iPHT; therefore, we sought to determine if ECV304 cells transfected with the HLA-B35 allele produce increased amounts of ET-1 after incubation with physiological concentrations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta). ECV304 cells transfected with HLA-B*3501 and HLA-B*0801 polymorphic alpha chain or with pIRESneo2 were incubated with 100 U/ml of IL-1beta for 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h. ET-1 levels were determined using EIA kit (CAYMAN Chemical, Ann Arbor, MI) in supernatants from different cell cultures; the relative expression of the preproendothelin-1 (PPET-1) gene was also determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Cells expressing the HLA-B35 allele showed significantly increased levels of ET-1 at all the selected times compared with controls or HLA-B8-transfected cells. The relative expression of the PPET-1 gene was also increased in a proportionally direct manner. The HLA-B35 allele influences the production of ET-1 in HLA-B35-transfected ECV304 cells by promoting the expression of its precursor, PPET-1. Our results provide an explanation for the epidemiological association existing between iPHT and HLA-B35.
authors.affiliation: Referral Centre for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, University of Milano & Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santaniello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lenna
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antonioli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beretta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scorza
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015797:HLA-B35 Antigen / Q000502:physiology*; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; C509422:HLA-B*08:01 antigen; C500431:HLA-B*35:01 antigen; D015797:HLA-B35 Antigen; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger