The relationship of anti-MICA antibodies and MICA expression with heart allograft rejection.

The role of MICA antibodies in acute heart allograft rejection was examined utilizing 190 pre- and post-transplant serum samples from 44 patients collected during the first year after transplantation. MICA antibodies were detected by CDC test on recombinant cell lines and by the newly developed Luminex MICA antibody detection assay. Additionally, MICA expression was analyzed by 'real time' RT-PCR and by immunohistochemistry in 10 endomyocardial biopsies.

MHC class I chain-related gene B promoter polymorphisms and celiac disease.

The possibility that susceptibility to celiac disease (CD) might be influenced by the MHC class I chain-related gene family, MICA and MICB, has been previously reported. In this study, we analyzed the MICB promoter and examined the association of the polymorphisms found within such in a group of CD patients. To study the MICB promoter we sequenced the 5' flanking region of MICB gene in DNA from homozygous B-lymphoblastoid cell lines corresponding to the most frequent MICB alleles found in our population (MICB*00502, MICB*002, MICB*004, and MICB*008).

Clinical behavior of multiple sclerosis is modulated by the MHC class I-chain-related gene A.

It is well known that certain HLA class II alleles confer an increased risk for developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Recent studies have suggested HLA class I as a region that may also contribute to the development of MS. In this study, we investigated the association between HLA-DR, HLA-B alleles, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-chain-related gene A (MICA) transmembrane (MICA-TM) polymorphisms and disease progression in 104 MS patients and 116 healthy controls.

Protective effect of the HLA-Bw4I80 epitope and the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DS1 gene against the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

The aim of the present study was to investigate, in 152 Spanish patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), the possibility that killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) influence progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. KIRs are related to the activation and inhibition of natural killer cells and may play an important role in the innate response against infection with such viruses as HCV. We found that the human leukocyte antigen-Bw4I80 epitope and the KIR3DS1 gene were more frequent in HCV carriers than in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Association of MHC class I related gene B (MICB) to celiac disease.

Background And Aims: Celiac disease (CD) is an enteropathic disorder characterized by strong association with HLA-DQ2. Our aim was to investigate whether MICB, a gene located in the MHC class I region, may contribute to CD susceptibility.

Patients And Methods: Total of 133 CD patients, previously reported to be associated with MICA-A5.