Minor histocompatibility antigens: targets for tumour therapy and transplant tolerance.
Minor histocompatibility (H) antigens are allogeneic targets of T-cell mediated immune reactivity following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Depending on the tissue expression profile of the minor H antigens this immune reactivity clinically results in graft-vs-host disease or in graft-vs-leukaemia effects. Targeting haematopoietic-specific minor H antigens by adoptive immunotherapy will evoke leukaemia-specific allo-immune responses, thereby enhancing graft-vs-leukaemia effects. Recently, a novel alternative role for minor H antigens in transplantation has been described; minor H antigen-specific T cells appear to be able to regulate allo-immune responses after solid organ transplantation. This diversity in immune reactivity suggests a broad clinical potential of minor H antigens, both in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and in solid organ transplantation.
Spierings
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Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. e.spierings@umcutrecht.nl
D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D023001:Transplantation Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*
D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens