MICA diversity and linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B alleles in renal-transplant candidates in southern Brazil.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA) is located centromerically to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B. The short distance between these loci in the MHC indicates the presence of linkage disequilibrium (LD). Similarly to the HLA, the MICA is highly polymorphic, and this polymorphism has not been well documented in different populations.

Prevalence of Torque teno virus in healthy donors of Paraná State, southern Brazil.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the Torque teno virus in healthy donors in the northern and northwestern regions of the state of Paraná, southern Brazil.

Methods: The Torque teno virus was detected by a nested polymerase chain reaction using a set of oligoprimers for the N22 region.

Results: The prevalence of the virus was 69% in 551 healthy blood donors in southern Brazil.

Torque teno virus among dialysis and renal-transplant patients.

Patients who undergo dialysis treatment or a renal transplant have a high risk of blood-borne viral infections, including the Torque teno virus (TTV). This study identified the presence of TTV and its genome groups in blood samples from 118 patients in dialysis and 50 renal-transplant recipients. The research was conducted in a hospital in the city of Maringá, state of Paraná.

HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 Allele and Haplotype Frequencies in Renal Transplant Candidates in a Population in Southern Brazil.

Background: Very few studies have examined the diversity of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in the Brazilian renal transplant candidates.

Methods: The frequencies of the HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 alleles, haplotypes and phenotypes were studied in 522 patients with chronic renal failure, renal transplant candidates, registered at the Transplant Centers in north/northwestern Paraná State, southern Brazil. Patients were classified according to the ethnic group (319 whites [Caucasians], 134 mestizos [mixed race descendants of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians; browns or "pardos"] and 69 blacks).

Evaluation of the humoral immune response to human leukocyte antigens in Brazilian renal transplant candidates.

Pre-transplant sensitization to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) is a risk factor for graft failure. Studies of the immunological profile related to anti-HLA antibodies in Brazilian renal transplant candidates are few. In this study, we evaluated the humoral immune response to HLA antigens in 269 renal transplant candidates, in Paraná State, Brazil.

Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) to detect Anti-HLA antibodies: old but gold.

Background: The criterion (gold) standard to detect anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies is the complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) assay. Recently, more sensitive methods have been used for the same purpose.

Methods: This study analyzed 70 serum samples of patients with end-stage renal disease using CDC, CDC with the addition of anti-human globulin (CDC-AHG), CDC with the addition of dithiothreitol (CDC-DTT), and the recent solid-phase immunoassay (SPI; Labscreen PRA) to detect anti-HLA antibodies.

Polymorphism of leukocyte and erythrocyte antigens in chronic kidney disease patients in southern Brazil.

We investigated the polymorphism of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and Duffy erythrocyte antigens in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in southern Brazil. One hundred and eighty-three CKD patients, over 18 years old, on hemodialysis, were included. HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 typing was performed using the LABType®SSO (One Lambda, Inc.