HLA‐DR and HLA‐A, B, C typing of human fetal tissue

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In anticipation of clinical trials of fetal pancreas transplantation [for insulin dependent diabetes] the feasibility of performing HLA-DR and HLA-A, B, C typing on fetal lymphoid cells other than PBL [peripheral blood lymphocyte] was investigated. Using the standard NIH [National Institute of Health] microcytotoxicity test modified for HLA-DR typing, HLA-DR antigens were demonstrated on subpopulations of bone marrow cells and splenocytes but not on thymocytes or hepatocytes. HLA-A, B, C antigens were detected on all 4 tissues. Excellent HLA-DR typing, confirmed by maternal typing, was obtained for 19 fetuses (14-23 wk old) using bone marrow cells isolated by 2-fold purification on discontinuous Percoll buoyant density gradients. Similar purification of splenocytes resulted in weak reactions with anti-DR sera; adherent splenocytes recovered from nylon wool columns were primarily DR-bearing and also provided excellent DR typing. Non-adhering splenocytes depleted of DR-bearing cells were ideal for HLA-A, B, C typing since spurious reaction due to DR antigens were greatly diminished; strong specific reactions were obtained with anti-HLA-A, B, C sera. Despite weaker reactions with HLA-A, B, C antisera obtained for thymocytes, reliable HLA-A, B, C typing was obtained when results from thymocytes were evaluated together with typing from bone marrow cells or splenocytes. The possible benefits of fetal HLA typing for fetal pancreas transplantation are discussed.