Tracheal Transplantation: Demonstration of HLA Class II Subregion Gene Products on Human Trachea

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Abstract
The present morphological study was designed to investigate the expression of HLA class II subregion gene products on human trachea. Frozen sections from the tracheas of 20 cadavers not suffering from ear, nose or throat diseases were studied immunohistochemi-cally using monoclonal antibodies which recognize monomorphic determinants of HLA-DR, -DP and -DQ molecules. Positive reactions could be detected in the airway epithelium and mixed glands. HLA-DR and -DP showed a stronger presence than HLA-DQ. Our results indicate that tracheal mucosa may be the major antigenic structure of the trachea and therefore responsible for the immunogenic action of allogenic tracheal transplants. Key words: tracheal allografting, HLA-DR antigens, HLA-DP antigens, HLA-DQ antigens, immunohistochemistry.