Evidence of immune tolerance to blood group antigens in a case of ABO-incompatible pediatric liver transplantation

Am J Transplant. 2007 Sep;7(9):2190-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2007.01901.x. Epub 2007 Jul 19.

Abstract

In a 12-year-old patient with blood group O, who had received a partial liver graft 10 years ago from his father with blood group A, the levels of anti-A-specific antibodies (Abs) were persistently undetectable after the transplantation, while the levels of anti-B-specific Abs gradually increased and attained a plateau. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from this patient were engrafted into NOD/SCID mouse in order to investigate the immune response to donor-type blood group antigens. Even after sensitization with blood group-A erythrocytes, no anti-A Abs were detected in the serum samples of the mouse that received PBMCs from the blood group-O recipient of group-A liver allograft, however, immunoglobulins specific for antigens other than the A antigens were produced. Thus, we provide a possible evidence of immune tolerance to blood group antigens in this ABO-incompatible pediatric liver transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Biliary Atresia / surgery
  • Blood Group Incompatibility / blood
  • Blood Group Incompatibility / immunology*
  • Blood Group Incompatibility / pathology
  • Child
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance / immunology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Liver Transplantation / immunology*
  • Liver Transplantation / pathology
  • Male

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System