RESUMO
PURPOSE: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is a non-classic major histocompatibility complex HLA class I molecule. HLA-G may have tolerogenic properties which are linked to epigenetic-sensitive pathways. There is a correlation of sHLA-G levels and graft acceptance in transplantation studies. There are previous data on correlation of sHLA-G with graft rejection as well as with viral infections such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) in kidney transplanted patients. Here, we report the sHLA-G expression in patients on the waiting list for kidney transplantation, with and without anti-HCV compared to a control group. METHODS: Serum of 67 patients on the waiting list for kidney transplantation (nâ¯=â¯43 with anti-HCV and nâ¯=â¯24 without anti-HCV) was analyzed. Among these patients, nâ¯=â¯39 were on the waiting list for the first transplantation, while nâ¯=â¯28 were patients who returned in the list. The control group included nâ¯=â¯23 blood donors with anti-HCV (nâ¯=â¯13) and without anti-HCV (nâ¯=â¯10). RESULTS: The expression of sHLA-G was significantly lower in the control group (39.6⯱â¯34.1 U/ml) compared to both - patients on the waiting list for the first transplantation (62.5⯱â¯42.4 U/ml, p=0.031) and patients who returned in the list (76.7⯱â¯53.9 U/ml, p=0.006). No significant differences were observed in all anti-HCV positive groups. A positive linear correlation between sHLA-G and TNF-α, and patient age was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Serum sHLA-G values were significantly increased in both - patients on the waiting list for the first transplantation and patients who returned in the list, as compared to control group. Our findings confirm the key tolerogenic role of sHLA-G levels as epigenetic-related marker for measuring the state of kidney allograft acceptance.