The Impact of the Donor Card Holder Prioritization Program on Kidney Allocation in Israel.

Background: Since 2014, as part of a priority program within the Israeli Transplant Law, additional points were given to waitlisted candidates with donor cards. We assessed the impact on deceased donor kidney allocation.

Methods: This study enrolled all patients older than 18 y who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation (January 2016-December 2019).

Differences in Telomere Length between Adolescent Females with Anorexia Nervosa Restricting Type and Anorexia Nervosa Binge-Purge Type.

Physiological and psychological distress may accelerate cellular aging, manifested by shortening of telomere length (TL). The present study focused on TL shortening in anorexia nervosa (AN), an illness combining physiological and psychological distress. For that purpose, we measured TL in 44 female adolescents with AN at admission to inpatient treatment, in a subset of 18 patients also at discharge, and in 22 controls.

New Insights on DR and DQ Human Leukocyte Antigens in Anti-LGI1 Encephalitis.

Background And Objectives: To explore the clinical characteristics and HLA associations of patients with anti-leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 encephalitis (LGI1E) from a large single center in Israel. Anti-LGI1E is the most commonly diagnosed antibody-associated encephalitic syndrome in adults. Recent studies of various populations reveal significant associations with specific HLA genes.

Donor-recipient ethnic mismatching impacts short- and long-term results of heart transplantation.

Background: The impact of donor-recipient ethnic matching on heart transplantation (HT) has been poorly studied with inconclusive results. We aimed to investigate the impact of ethnic matching on HT outcomes in Israeli multiethnic patients.

Methods: The study comprised 168 patients who underwent HT from 1990-2017.

Individual olfactory perception reveals meaningful nonolfactory genetic information.

Each person expresses a potentially unique subset of ∼ 400 different olfactory receptor subtypes. Given that the receptors we express partially determine the odors we smell, it follows that each person may have a unique nose; to capture this, we devised a sensitive test of olfactory perception we termed the "olfactory fingerprint." Olfactory fingerprints relied on matrices of perceived odorant similarity derived from descriptors applied to the odorants.

Central nervous system acute lymphoblastic leukemia: role of natural killer cells.

Central nervous system acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CNS-ALL) is a major clinical problem. Prophylactic therapy is neurotoxic, and a third of the relapses involve the CNS. Increased expression of interleukin 15 (IL-15) in leukemic blasts is associated with increased risk for CNS-ALL.

Development of allogeneic NK cell adoptive transfer therapy in metastatic melanoma patients: in vitro preclinical optimization studies.

Natural killer (NK) cells have long been considered as potential agents for adoptive cell therapy for solid cancer patients. Until today most studies utilized autologous NK cells and yielded disappointing results. Here we analyze various modular strategies to employ allogeneic NK cells for adoptive cell transfer, including donor-recipient HLA-C mismatching, selective activation and induction of melanoma-recognizing lysis receptors, and co-administration of antibodies to elicit antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Compound heterozygosity of HLA-DRB3*01:01 and HLA-DRB4*01:01 as a potential predictor of fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

Background: Fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a life-threatening bleeding disorder in the fetus or neonate caused by maternal alloantibodies directed against fetal platelet (PLT) antigens inherited from the father. The immune-dominant antigen leading to severe FNAIT is the human PLT antigen (HPA)-1, whose polymorphism constitutes an epitope for human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), usually DRB3*0101 leading to an immune response.

Study Design And Methods: In this study our aims were to find whether other allele variants of the β subunit of the HLA-DR family specifically focused on the HLA residues that bind Position 33 of the HPA-1 integrin contribute to FNAIT development and affect response to treatment and whether coexistence of both anti-HPA-1a and anti-HLA class I specific against the father's antigens leads to a more severe thrombocytopenia in the newborn.

TMPRSS2/ERG promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition through the ZEB1/ZEB2 axis in a prostate cancer model.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-dermatologic malignancy in men in the Western world. Recently, a frequent chromosomal aberration fusing androgen regulated TMPRSS2 promoter and the ERG gene (TMPRSS2/ERG) was discovered in prostate cancer. Several studies demonstrated cooperation between TMPRSS2/ERG and other defective pathways in cancer progression.

Clone clusters in autoreactive CD4 T-cell lines from probable multiple sclerosis patients form disease-characteristic signatures.

We developed a method for selectively propagating disease-related autoreactive T-cell lines (auTCLs) based on their increased resistance to apoptosis. The generated auTCLs homogeneously co-express CD45RO and CD49a, adhere strongly to extracellular matrix proteins and express high interleukin-17 (IL-17) messenger RNA levels, resembling a T-cell subset proposed to transmigrate into tissues and induce systemic and local inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. The combinations of T-cell oligoclones that comprise probable multiple sclerosis (pMS) disease-related lines use a unique portfolio of T-cell receptor beta-chain variable allele (BV genes) combinations forming 'disease-specific cluster patterns'.

Natural killer lysis receptor (NKLR)/NKLR-ligand matching as a novel approach for enhancing anti-tumor activity of allogeneic NK cells.

Background: NK cells are key players in anti tumor immune response, which can be employed in cell-based therapeutic modalities. One of the suggested ways to amplify their anti tumor effect, especially in the field of stem cell transplantation, is by selecting donor/recipient mismatches in specific HLA, to reduce the inhibitory effect of killer Ig-like receptors (KIRs). Here we suggest an alternative approach for augmentation of anti tumor effect of allogeneic NK cells, which is founded on profile matching of donor NK lysis receptors (NKLR) phenotype with tumor lysis-ligands.

Donor-derived brain tumor following neural stem cell transplantation in an ataxia telangiectasia patient.

Background: Neural stem cells are currently being investigated as potential therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, and trauma. However, concerns have been raised over the safety of this experimental therapeutic approach, including, for example, whether there is the potential for tumors to develop from transplanted stem cells.

Methods And Findings: A boy with ataxia telangiectasia (AT) was treated with intracerebellar and intrathecal injection of human fetal neural stem cells.

Genotype-phenotype correlations analysis of mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene.

The aims of our research were to define the genotype-phenotype correlations of mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene that cause phenylketonuria (PKU) among the Israeli population. The mutation spectrum of the PAH gene in PKU patients in Israel is described, along with a discussion on genotype-phenotype correlations. By using polymerase chain reaction/denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (PCR/dHPLC) and DNA sequencing, we screened all exons of the PAH gene in 180 unrelated patients with four different PKU phenotypes [classic PKU, moderate PKU, mild PKU, and mild hyperphenylalaninemia (MHP)].

A new MALDI-TOF-based assay for monitoring JAK2 V617F mutation level in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo SCT) for classic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD).

JAK2 V617F mutation is found in a high proportion of MPD patients. We developed a quantitative assay for the detection of the JAK2 mutation and demonstrated its clinical utility in MPD patients who underwent SCT. Sixty percent of the patients were JAK2 V617F positive prior to the SCT (mean mutation levels 74%, range 16-98%).

HLA-G expression is induced in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell lines by culture conditions.

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) belongs to the nonclassical HLA class I family of genes presently designated as class Ib genes. It was found to be expressed mainly in placental tissue and in the thymus. Expression of HLA-G is induced by lymphokines such as interleukin-10 and has been associated with the escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance or with inhibition of graft rejection.

Modulation of adiponectin and leptin during refeeding of female anorexia nervosa patients.

Context: Several studies assessed adiponectin levels in anorexia nervosa (AN) patients, however, data regarding the dynamics of changes in adiponectin levels during refeeding of these patients is limited and contradicting.

Objective: Our objective was to assess adiponectin levels and the distribution of its different isoforms in AN patients before and after long-term refeeding, and to relate them to alterations in body mass index, leptin, insulin sensitivity, and additional endocrine parameters.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We conducted a longitudinal controlled study of 38 female adolescent malnourished AN inpatients, with 13 young, lean, healthy women serving as controls.

Plasma homocysteine levels in female patients with eating disorders.

Objective: To examine plasma homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate levels in females with restricting and bingeing/purging eating disorders (EDs).

Method: Adolescent and adult female patients were compared to appropriate control groups with regard to plasma homocysteine levels.

Results: The plasma homocysteine level of the adult ED patients was higher than that of controls for all age groups examined.

Inhibition of human tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte effector functions by the homophilic carcinoembryonic cell adhesion molecule 1 interactions.

Efficient antitumor immune response requires the coordinated function of integrated immune components, but is finally exerted by the differentiated effector tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). TIL cells comprise, therefore, an exciting platform for adoptive cell transfer (ACT) in cancer. In this study, we show that the inhibitory carcinoembryonic Ag cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) protein is found on virtually all human TIL cells following preparation protocols of ACT treatment for melanoma.

Pemphigus vulgaris is associated with the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) system.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a human leukocute antigen (HLA) class II-associated autoimmune disease of the skin of unknown etiology. We recently described the association of pemphigus vulgaris with two clusters of microsatellite loci within the major histocompatibility complex region. One cluster includes the microsatellite marker TAP1CA, located in proximity to the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) genes.

High NK cell activity in recurrent miscarriage: what are we really measuring?

Background: Several studies have shown that women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM) have increased numbers and activity of peripheral blood NK cells and that elevated levels of these cells predict subsequent miscarriages in women with RM. Because catecholamines rapidly mobilize NK cells into the circulation, such increases may not reflect a steady state of overactive immunity but may result from a transient increase in the number of NK cells because of the stress associated with blood withdrawal.

Methods: Blood was drawn from 22 controls and 38 RM patients immediately after vein cannulation, and again 20 min later.

The immunogenetics of pemphigus vulgaris.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin of unknown etiology. While various environmental factors have been implicated as triggering agents, HLA association is probably the most important predisposing factor. The aim of this review is to highlight the association of HLA with pemphigus vulgaris.

Successful umbilical cord blood transplantation for Fanconi anemia using preimplantation genetic diagnosis for HLA-matched donor.

Fanconi anemia is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by bone marrow failure, developmental anomalies, and a high incidence of myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukemia. Stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment. In the absence of matched- sibling donor, an alternative mismatched family or matched unrelated donor can be used, but the results are inferior to the matched-sibling transplant and carry a high risk of morbidity and mortality.

Erroneous identification in a mixed population: simulation using Israeli STR data.

Allele distributions of 10 short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphic DNA loci used in forensic and paternity testing were determined for a cohort comprising 163 individuals representing a mixed Jewish Caucasian population. Typing was carried out by the commercial AmpF lSTR SGM Plus kit. The polymorphism and the utility of three of these markers for forensic studies in Israel were established for the first time.

HLA-G is associated with pemphigus vulgaris in Jewish patients.

Pemphigus is a group of life-threatening autoimmune blistering diseases of the skin and mucous membranes. The etiology and pathogenesis of this destructive autoimmune process remains unknown, but significant association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) factors have been described in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) patient cohorts worldwide. We have recently analyzed DNA samples obtained from pemphigus patients and matched controls with a set of microsatellite markers, and found that markers mapped to HLA class I region are significantly associated with the disease.