title: Expression of immune-modulatory molecules HLA-G and HLA-E by tumor cells in glioblastomas: an unexpected prognostic significance?
abstract: The role of nonclassical human leukocyte antigens G and E (HLA-G and HLA-E) was originally thought to be restricted to the protection of the fetus from a maternal allorecognition. Now it is known that HLA-G and HLA-E exert multiple immunoregulatory functions. A prognostic significance of the expression of HLA-G and HLA-E by neoplastic cells in glioblastoma is not well characterized. In this study, we evaluated the expression of HLA-G and HLA-E by neoplastic cells in 39 cases of glioblastoma. We found the production of HLA-G and HLA in a majority of cases. There was an unexpected positive correlation between the expression of HLA-E and length of survival. We speculate that the expression of this molecule by neoplastic cells may represent a coincidental selective pro-host advantage related to better response to subsequent therapeutic modalities. Mechanisms of glioblastoma cell pathophysiology and mechanisms of responses to therapeutic interventions in respect to the expression of these molecules deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. lkren@fnbrno.cz
authors.forename: Leos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kren
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Slaby
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muckova
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lzicarova
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sova
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vybihal
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Svoboda
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fadrus
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lakomy
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vanhara
authors.forename: Zdenka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krenova
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sterba
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smrcka
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michalek
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011379:Prognosis; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens