title: Soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen-G in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage of Lung Cancer Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main function of the HLA-G molecule in its membrane-bound and soluble forms is to inhibit the immune response by acting on CD4+ T cells, cytotoxic T cells, NK cells and dendritic cells. Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and annual incidence is high in both women and men. Some studies have reported an increase of HLA-G serum levels in lung cancer, probably generated by tumor cells escaping the antitumor immune response. In this study the concentration of soluble HLA-G in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with primary and metastatic lung cancer was measured to determine its relation with tumor histological type and overall patient status according to the Karnofsky scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one lung cancer patients were included. A tumor biopsy was obtained by bronchoscopy and the tumor type was determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. BAL samples were obtained to measure soluble HLA-G concentrations in an ELISA sandwich assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average value of soluble HLA-G was 49.04ng/mL. No correlation between soluble HLA-G levels and age, gender or smoking was observed. A highly significant difference was observed in the levels of soluble HLA-G in BAL from patients with different histological types of lung cancer, especially in metastatic tumors. The Karnofsky index showed a significant and inverse correlation with soluble HLA-G levels in BAL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Soluble HLA-G protein is significantly associated with metastatic tumors and patients with lower Karnofsky index and may be useful as a prognostic marker in lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumonología y Cirugía de Tórax, Instituto Autónomo Hospital Universitario de los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Dayana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montilla
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumonología y Cirugía de Tórax, Instituto Autónomo Hospital Universitario de los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Inmunología Clínica, Universidad de los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Lérida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Mediciones y Evaluaciones, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Inmunología Clínica, Universidad de los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela. Electronic address: jacova@ula.ve.
authors.forename: José-Angel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cova
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D059951:HLA-G Antigens
keywords: Antígeno leucocitario humano-G; Bronchoalveolar Lavage; Cáncer de pulmón; Human Leukocyte Antigen-G; Karnofsky index; Lavado broncoalveolar; Lung cancer; Índice de Karnofsky