Antibody response to DBY minor histocompatibility antigen is induced after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and in healthy female donors

Abstract

Using Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we found that 50% of male patients who received stem cell grafts from female donors developed antibody responses to recombinant DBY protein. Antibodies to DBY were also detected in 17% of healthy women, but not in healthy men. Antibody responses were directed primarily against areas of amino acid disparity between DBY and DBX. These studies demonstrate that the immune response to mHA includes the generation of specific antibodies and suggests that the serologic response to these antigens may also be useful in the identification of new mHAs. (Blood.

Nephrotic syndrome associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

“…Most patients with cGVHD, as in the murine models, have evidence of B-cell dysregulation with a high prevalence of autoantibodies to several cell surface and intracellular antigens, 35,37 as well as antibodies directed against minor histocompatibility antigens. 38 The role of these antibodies in the pathogenesis of the disease is unknown. B-cell alloreactivity to minor histocompatibility antigens is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of cGVHD in humans.…”

Donor-derived HLA antibody production in patients undergoing SCT from HLA antibody-positive donors

“…Several previous studies have shown that alloantibodies to Y-chromosome-associated minor histocompatibility antigens can frequently be found after sex-mismatched SCT, and this has been correlated with the occurrence of chronic GVHD. 28,29 In this study, two patients received SCT from RSA-positive donors; both patients became antibody-positive after SCT. Although RSA were detected in neither patient, this may be because the RSA can be absorbed with HLA antigens expressed in the patients' tissues.…”

Donor–recipient gender difference affects severity of dry eye after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

“…Miklos et al proposed that, because female donor T cells have not been exposed to unique epitopes on the Y chromosome, thymic maturation does not delete the T cells capable of recognizing the H-Y antigens. 21 Besides the T cells, antibodies against the H-Y antigen made by donor B cells probably also contribute to GVHD. 21,22 There are some reports that male recipients whose female donors had previous pregnancies or blood transfusions are at increased risk of developing GVHD, [23][24][25] apparently because of B-cell sensitization to the H-Y antigen.…”