ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pre-transplant sensitization to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) is a risk factor for graft failure. The purpose of the current single-center study was to evaluate humoral immune response to HLA antigens and the possible relationship between anti-HLA antibody titer and autoimmune disorders in renal transplant candidates. METHODS: A total of 435 renal transplant candidates were analyzed; 50 sensitized patients were enrolled in this study. The HLA typing was performed by use of enzyme-linked immunoassay combined with Luminex technology. The patients were questioned for clinical evidence of hypothyroidism and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and investigated for anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG), anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies, and thyroid function tests. RESULTS: Among 50 patients with positive panel reactive antibody, 24 (48%) were positive for class I and negative for class II, 12 (24%) were negative for class I and positive for class II, and 14 (28%) were positive for both classes I and II. The specificities of anti-HLA antibodies-A23, A68, A69, B27, B49, DR6, and DR8-were the most frequent. ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies were not correlated with either clinical symptoms of SLE or anti-HLA antibody titer of renal transplant candidates. Similarly, anti-TG and anti-TPO antibodies were not correlated with clinical hypothyroidism or anti-HLA antibody titer. CONCLUSIONS: Our data have demonstrated the profile of anti-HLA antibodies in patients who were on the renal transplant waiting list in Turkey. The most frequent specificities of anti-HLA antibodies were A23, A68, A69, B27, B49, DR6, and DR8. There was no association between anti-HLA antibody titer and clinical and laboratory evidence of SLE and hypothyroidism.
Subject(s)
HLA Antigens/immunology , Hypothyroidism/immunology , Immunity, Humoral/physiology , Kidney Failure, Chronic/immunology , Kidney Transplantation , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology , Adult , Antibodies, Antinuclear/immunology , Autoantibodies , Female , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/immunology , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/immunology , Humans , Kidney Failure, Chronic/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , TurkeyABSTRACT
This study was carried out to determine the milt quality in male Mesopotamian spiny eel (Mastacembelus mastacembelus; Bank & Solender in Russell, 1794) during spawning season. Review was performed using 58 M. mastecembulus males captured from Atatürk Dam Lake in Turkey. Milt samples were collected and evaluated daily during sampling period. In collected milt, volume of milt, sperm motility percentage, the duration of forward motility, sperm concentration, milt production and milt pH were evaluated. On June 10, 2005, 72% of the males were spermiating, which increased to 100% in the middle of June and dropped to 72% by late June. Sperm motility percentage showed a significant improvement after beginning of spermiation (P<0.001). Sperm concentration changed significantly (P<0.001) in milt collected during sampling period. Duration of sperm motility increased significantly (P<0.001) from beginning (8.22 min) through end (37.33 min) of spermiation. Milt production was maximal on June 15th, decreasing from a mean value of 3.12-0.46 x 10(9)/ml. The high pH in milt was observed during the week of spermiation (P<0.001). In conclusion, the results show that season has a significant influence on semen quality in male M. mastecembulus corresponding to spawning season in hot arid. Milt of good quality was especially collected in the middle of June. Spawning season in this fish species was found to be short.
