Soluble HLA-G and HLA-A,-B,-C serum levels in patients with allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by Th2-polarized immune response. Soluble HLA (sHLA) molecules play an immunomodulatory activity. So far, however, no study investigated them in AR.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C serum levels in AR patients with pollen allergy and in a group of healthy controls.


METHODS
Forty-nine AR patients were enrolled. A group of healthy nonallergic subjects was considered as control. sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C serum levels were determined by immunoenzymatic method. The study was conducted during the winter, such as outside the pollen season.


RESULTS
Allergic patients had significantly higher levels of both sHLA-G (P < 0.0001) and sHLA-A,-B,-C (P = 0.011) molecules than normal controls. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between these two soluble molecules (r = 0.69) in allergic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides the first evidence that both sHLA-G and sHLA-A,-B,-C serum levels are significantly increased in AR patients with pollen allergy.
Ciprandi
G
G
DIMI, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Colombo
B M
BM
Contini
P
P
Cagnati
P
P
Pistorio
A
A
Puppo
F
F
Murdaca
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012995:Solubility; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I