title: Can HLA-G polymorphisms predict the development of cardiac allograft vasculopathy?
abstract: A 14 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in exon 8 of the HLA-G gene is associated with mRNA stability and HLA-G expression. In cardiac transplantation, the 14 bp deletion polymorphism plays an important role in the expression of HLA-G and is associated with fewer episodes of cellular rejection. We investigated the association between the 14 bp insertion/deletion HLA-G polymorphism and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) post heart transplantation. There were no statistically significant differences in the presence of the three HLA-G genotypes (-14 bp/-14 bp, +14 bp/-14 bp, +14 bp/+14 bp) between patients without CAV and patients with CAV at 1 year (p=0.61) or 5 years (p=0.76) post-transplant. We found no correlation between HLA-G genotypes and CAV progression from baseline to 5 years post-transplant (p=0.55). HLA-G polymorphism appears to play an important role as a genetic indicator for cellular rejection post-transplant; however, it is not a reliable marker to identify patients at risk of CAV.
authors.affiliation: Heart Transplant Program, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2C4.
authors.forename: Amelia G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mociornita
authors.forename: Jongsung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim-Shon
authors.forename: Jemy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Diego H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Delgado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D059951:HLA-G Antigens