HLA-G expression in renal transplant patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HLA-G expression in renal transplant patients in relation to cytomegalovirus infection
IRAS ID
152103
Contact name
Stephen E Christmas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Livepool
Research summary
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a type of herpes virus which infects the majority of the population during childhood. This is normally handled by the immune response and, apart from a slight fever, there are rarely any serious symptoms and the virus remains latent for life. However, in kidney transplant patients, who are given immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection, the associated reduction in immune response may lead to reactivation of latent virus with serious consequences. Patients who are CMV negative and given a transplant from a CMV positive donor, are at higher risk as they lack a pre-existing immune response to CMV.
In order to survive in a latent state in its human host, CMV has a large number of genes whose function is to suppress the immune response. There is some evidence that CMV can switch on a human gene called HLA-G, related to the well-known ‘tissue type’ genes which determine whether a kidney transplant is accepted or rejected. HLA-G is then able to switch off the host’s immune response, thereby preventing the virus from being eliminated. Recently, the HLA-G gene has been found to occur in two different forms, ‘14bp inserted or deleted’. The 14bp deleted form leads to higher levels of HLA-G and would be expected to give better protection for the virus.
The aims of the project are to study the HLA-G gene and its products in stored DNA and serum samples from kidney transplant patients and donors to determine whether patients with the 14bp inserted or deleted forms differ in their susceptibility to CMV infection or kidney rejection after transplantation. This work will provide information on whether it is advisable to test the HLA-G type of transplant patients to reduce their chances of CMV infection or rejection.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/0094
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion