What does HLA mean?
HLA stands for human leukocyte antigens. HLA are proteins—or markers—on most cells in your body. Your immune system uses HLA to see which cells belong in your body and which do not. Find a donor. HLA matching.
Are all HLA antigens alike?
HLA genes are highly polymorphic, which means that they have many different alleles, allowing them to fine-tune the adaptive immune system. The proteins encoded by certain genes are also known as antigens, as a result of their historic discovery as factors in organ transplants.
What causes HLA?
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) sensitisation occurs after transfusion of blood products and transplantation. It can also happen spontaneously through cross-sensitisation from infection and pro-inflammatory events.
What is a HLA genotype?
HLA is the human version of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a gene family that occurs in many species. Genes in this complex are categorized into three basic groups: class I, class II, and class III. In humans, the HLA-B gene and two related genes, HLA-A and HLA-C, are the main genes in MHC class I.
Are there any HLA identical sibling transplants available?
However, only in a minority of patients an HLA-identical sibling donor is available. These results are comparable to those achieved with concurrent HLA-identical sibling transplants. About 25 to 30 percent of allogeneic HSCT recipients have an HLA-identical sibling.
What does it mean when a patient has antibodies to the HLA?
If the patient has antibody to the donor’s HLA, the donor’s cells will be injured and this is referred to as a “positive crossmatch”. A positive crossmatch is a strong indication against transplant, since it signifies that the patient has the ability to attack the donor’s cells, and would, most likely attack the donor’s implanted kidney.
What happens when two people share the same HLA?
When two people share the same HumanLeukocyte Antigens (abbreviated as HLA), they are said to be a “match”, that is, their tissues are immunologically compatible with each other. HLA are proteins that are located on the surface of the white blood cells and other tissues in the body.
How is the HLA system used in transplant testing?
Clinical HLA laboratories perform various tests to support the transplant programs; including HLA typing of the recipient and the potential donor, screening and identification of HLA antibodies in the recipient, and detection of antibodies in the recipient that are reactive with lymphocytes of a prospective donor (i.e., crossmatching).