Abstract

Objective: The role of HLA molecules in innate immunity is well known. It has also been established that anti-HLA antibodies are produced by blood transfusion, multiparous women, previous transplantation, and autoimmune diseases. Anti-HLA antibody may occur during transplantation depending on the HLA tissue compatibility the between donor and recipient. The variety of anti-HLA antibodies depends on mismatches, affecting the risk of rejection. In our study,, we aimed to establish anti- HLA antibodies from the sera of blood transfused people. As anti-HLA antibodies were present, they were identified and used for transplant immunology tests.

Materials and Methods: Sera were obtained from the people who were blood transfused. Thirty-five serum samples were loaded on 60 teresaki plaques (including 72 wells) and called lot 1.Lot 2 included 62 and lot 3 involved 40 plaques. Lot 4 was for 12 patients who were renal transplanted. Their pre and post transplantation serum samples were used. Prepared plaques which included serum samples were tested by lymphocytes isolated and HLA typed routinely each day from the patients. As HLA typed lymphocytes react with given serum, serum were analyzed to determine which antigens react with them.

Results: Lymphocytotoxicity method was used for antigen/antibody reactions. True positive, true negative, false positive and false negative reactions were statistically assessed to find out antibodies that react given antigens. We obtained 12 specific and 3 non-specific antibodies out of 117 sera.

Conclusion: 15 anti-HLA antibodies were identified. Twelve anti-HLA antibodies were specific. They were analyzed a couple of times to confirm that they react given HLA antigens. Then, some HLA antigens which are disease related were investigated. HLA antibodies are polymorphic; thus, they need to be tested with more and more specific antibodies. Non-specific anti-HLA antibodies reacted with almost all the HLA antigens. Hence, they were used as a control serum for serologic tests. The patients who had anti-HLA antibodies in their serum were warned for future complications, such as being organ transplantation candidates.