title: Analysis of HLA-ABC locus-specific transcription in normal tissues.
abstract: We developed a novel human leukocyte antigen HLA-ABC locus-specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the locus-specific gene expression of HLA-ABC in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs, n = 53), colon mucosa (n = 15), and larynx mucosa (n = 15). Laser-assisted tissue microdissection allowed us to study the selected cells without interference from surrounding stroma. We report evidence on the specificity of the technique, describing the HLA-ABC locus-specific gene expression patterns found in the PBLs and two solid tissues studied. PBLs showed a higher gene expression of HLA-B than of HLA-A or HLA-C (p = 4.7 × 10(-10) and p = 1.6 × 10(-6), respectively). In solid tissue, HLA-A and HLA-B gene expressions were similar and HLA-C expression lower. In particular, in larynx mucosa, significant differences were found between HLA-A and HLA-C expressions and between HLA-B and HLA-C expressions (p = 6.5 × 10(-4) and p = 8.1 × 10(-4), respectively). The same differences were observed in colon mucosa, but significance was not reached (p = 0.08 and p = 0.06, respectively). Differences in locus-specific regulation may be related to the control of cytotoxic responses of NK and CD8 positive T cells. Gene expression of HLA-ABC specific locus showed no intra-individual variability, but there was a high inter-individual variability. This may result from differences in the expression of common regulatory factors that control HLA-ABC constitutive expression.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avenida Fuerzas Armadas no. 2, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana Belén
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: García-Ruano
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Cabello
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garrido
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens