Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Primarily expressed by trophoblast cells, human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) plays an essential role in maintaining maternal-fetal immune tolerance. Having previously been detected following heart transplantation, we sought to establish the value of HLA-G in identifying freedom from moderate or severe rejection post-heart transplant, and the capability of its expression in vitro. After assessing myocardial HLA-G expression through immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that it was significantly more prevalent in non-rejecting than rejecting heart transplant recipients. Utilizing vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell culture models, we also determined that while HLA-G expression remains tightly regulated, its expression in vitro can be induced following progesterone treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, HLA-G may reliably identify patients with a low immunological risk of developing subsequent clinically significant rejection post-heart transplant. Furthermore, HLA-G expression can be induced in cultured endothelial and smooth muscle cells, which might represent a strategy to protect against allograft rejection and vasculopathy.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Rohit Sheshgiri
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2759364659