HLA alloimmunization with leukocyte concentrates from HLA-matched and HLA-non-matched donors in patients with Hunter's syndrome.

The incidence and characteristics of HLA alloimmunization following transfusions of leukocyte concentrates as a source of enzyme replacement were determined in male patients with Hunter's syndrome. Five patients were given leukocyte concentrates from HLA matched donors (Group I) and another five patients received leukocyte concentrates from non-HLA matched donors (Group II). No other blood products were transfused in either group. Immune response pattern of HLA alloimmunization measured as the proportion of screening cells manifesting cytotoxicity with patient's sera obtained during the follow-up period was similar in both groups. HLA alloimmunization is seen with transfused leukocyte concentrates from either HLA-matched or non-HLA-matched donors in patients with Hunter's syndrome. There appears to be a trend for an earlier onset of HLA alloimmunization with fewer transfusions when leukocyte concentrates from non-HLA-matched donors are transfused as compared to leukocyte concentrates from HLA-matched donors. Once HLA alloimmunization occurs, immune response patterns appear similar with either leukocyte product.

Spontaneous in vitro transformation of human fibroblasts.

The establishment of a spontaneously transformed tumorigenic human fibroblast line, VIP-F:T, is described. This line was developed from a primary culture of normal skin from a donor from whom a separate nontransformed fibroblast line, Pen-F2, also was established. The transformed line VIP-F:T exhibited aneuploid karyotype with a marker chromosome, showed anchorage-independent growth, and produced progressively growing tumors with morphologic characteristics of sarcoma in CD-1 (nu/nu) nude mice. The normal fibroblast line Pen-F2 exhibited diploid karyotype, showed no anchorage-independent growth, and produced no tumors in the nude mice. The spontaneously transformed fibroblast line VIP-F:T and its normal counterpart Pen-F2 will be valuable in studies of oncogene expression and in other investigations relevant to neoplasia.

Characteristics and natural history of alloimmunization following HLA-matched leukocyte transfusion in Hunter's syndrome.

The characteristics and natural history of alloimmunization to HLA were studied in five patients with Hunter's syndrome receiving long term transfusions of leukocytes collected from human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched donors. Patients were not given any other blood component transfusions. All patients became alloimmunized at an average interval of eight months following an average of 15 transfusions. All patients developed HLA alloantibodies to transfused cross-reactive HLA antigens. Antibodies to transfused incompatible HLA antigens also developed in all patients. Multispecific HLA antibodies in which specificity determination could not be made were also seen in four patients. In a small number of patients in this study, despite matching for the private HLA specificities, HLA alloimmunization was not prevented. In fact, broad alloimmunization was seen uniformly in our patients.