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Evidence for no relevance of anti–major histocompatibility complex class i–related chain a antibodies in liver transplantation
Author(s) -
Uzunel Mehmet,
Kasimu Haxiaobieke,
Joshi Meghnad,
Ge Xupeng,
Liu Jining,
Xu Bo,
Jaksch Marie,
Jorns Carl,
Nowak Grzegorz,
SumitranHolgersson Suchitra
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.21620
Subject(s) - liver transplantation , antibody , flow cytometry , medicine , major histocompatibility complex , transplantation , mica , histocompatibility , antigen , immunology , human leukocyte antigen , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , paleontology
Abstract The polymorphic major histocompatibility complex class I–related chain A (MICA) antigen is being increasingly recognized as a potential target molecule for immune cells during allograft rejection. Here we studied whether MICA is a target antigen for antibodies in liver transplant patients. Eighty‐four patients were investigated for the presence of MICA antibodies before and after liver transplantation with MICA‐transfected cells and flow cytometry. MICA typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction. Expression of MICA in liver cells was determined by reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. Liver biopsy specimens from liver transplant patients were examined for MICA expression. A total of 22 of 84 (26%) patients had MICA antibodies either pre‐transplant (8/84, 9.5%) or post‐transplant (14/84, 17%). No correlation between rejection frequencies (14/22, 63%) or other clinical parameters was observed in patients with MICA antibody versus those without MICA antibody (29/62, 47% P = not significant). We found weak messenger RNA expression for MICA in liver cells but no protein or cell surface expression. In addition, no MICA expression in liver biopsy sections from liver transplant patients was observed at any time point, including rejections. Thus, our preliminary results demonstrate no causal relationship between the presence of MICA antibodies and liver allograft rejections. Therefore, it is likely that MICA may not be an important target antigen during liver allograft rejections. Liver Transpl 14:1793–1802, 2008. © 2008 AASLD.