[Expression of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A antibody in patients with end-stage renal disease and its clinical implications].

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) antibody in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: Luminex flow cytometry and beads loaded with 11 MICA antigens were used to identify the MICA antibody and evaluate the antibody specificity in 110 patients with ESRD. RESULTS: The positivity rate of MICA antibody was 40% (12/30) in PRA-positive patients, significantly higher than the rate of 17.5% (14/80) in PRA-negative patients (chi(2)=6.120, P=0.013). MICA-specific antibodies against 10 of the 11 MICA antigens were detected in 26 MICA antibody-positive patients, and 26.92% of the MICA antibody-positive patients had antibodies with single-specificity and 73.08% had polyspecific antibodies. Three MICA antibody-positive patients with cadaveric kidney transplantation showed good function of the graft without acute rejection 2 months after the operation. CONCLUSION: The positivity rate of MICA antibody is significantly higher in PRA-positive patients, suggesting a strong correlation between MICA and PRA positivity. The MICA antibodies are polyspecific and probably consist of IgM and IgG. These data can be used as prospective data for these ESRD patients considering potential renal transplantation, and may facilitate further investigation of the association of MICA with renal transplantation.