HLA-restricted cell-mediated cytotoxicity directed against male specific (H-Y) antigen after acute rejection of an HLA-identical sibling kidney
Pfeffer, P.F.; Sødal, G.; Thorsby, E.
Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology. Supplementum 64: 72-78
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8886 PMID: 6216585 Document Number: 178566
A 22-year old female patient who received a kidney from her HLA-A, -B, -C and D/DR identical brother (HLA-A2, 28; B7, 14; DR1/2) acutely rejected the graft 2 1/2 weeks post transplantation. In vitro tests 1 month later, using recipient responding cells and donor stimulating/target cells, revealed: No direct cell-mediated lympholysis (CML), but strong CML against donor target cells after priming in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC). Testing these cytotoxic cells from the patient on the panel of non-related target cells, we found positive CML only against target cells from male donors carrying HLA-A2 and/or -B7 specificities. Both MLC and CML tests using donor responding cells and recipient stimulating and target cells were negative. These findings indicate an HLA restricted cytotoxicity against a male-specific minor histocompatibility antigen, which may be the cause of rejection in this case.