title: Reassessing the impact of donor HLA-C genotype on long-term liver transplant survival.
abstract: HLA-C is the major inhibitory ligand for killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) that are expressed on natural killer (NK) cells. Based on their KIR specificity, HLA-C alleles can be divided into two groups, termed HLA-C1 and HLA-C2. Donor HLA-C group has recently been identified by Hanvesakul et al. (Am J Transplant 2008) as a critical determinant of clinical outcome following liver transplantation: Possession of at least one HLA-C group 2 allele by the donor was associated with significantly improved long-term graft and patient survival, presumably due to an inhibition of host NK cell function. To verify this study, we performed genotyping of 913 deceased liver donors for the relevant KIR epitopes of HLA-C and correlated the presence or absence of donor HLA-C2 genotype with graft and patient survival. In our study, donor HLA-C2 genotype had no impact on 10-year graft or patient survival. We cannot confirm a major role of donor HLA-C2 genotype on long-term allograft survival after liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation Immunology, Institute of Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Döhler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meenagh
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sleator
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opelz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D054340:Receptors, KIR