Molecular immunology最新文献

{"title":"Dexmedetomidine improve lung inflammation by regulating autophagy and apoptosis of CD4+ T cell via AMPK/mTOR signaling","authors":"Renjie Luo ,&nbsp;Zhao Wang ,&nbsp;Fang Xu ,&nbsp;Ke Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To investigate the protective effect and potential mechanism of dexmedetomidine (Dex) in acute lung injury (ALI).</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>C57BL/6 mice and EL-4 cells were used for in vivo and in vitro studies, respectively. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) method was used to prepare an acute lung injury model. After dexmedetomidine intervention, tissue and cell samples were collected to evaluate and measure the severity of lung damage, the proportion of Treg cells, the expression of autophagy-related protein levels and AMPK/mTOR pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Dex reduced lung damage, and IL-17a, MPO positive cells in the lung, decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and restrain autophagy and apoptosis via the activation of the AMPK/mTOR pathway and increase of the proportion of Tregs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Dex can inhibit the levels of autophagy and apoptosis, increase the proportion of Treg cells, and reduce CLP induced acute lung injury through regulating AKMP/MTOR pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"183 ","pages":"Pages 1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bro p 3, an nsLTP1: The first major allergen identified in Broussonetia papyrifera pollen","authors":"Zihan Jiang ,&nbsp;Xiaoling Yin ,&nbsp;Zhonglei Chen ,&nbsp;Shixi Liu ,&nbsp;Juan Meng ,&nbsp;Aiwu Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Broussonetia papyrifera</em> pollen is an important cause of allergy worldwide, yet its key allergenic components remain unclear. This study aims to identify and characterize the major allergen of <em>B.papyrifera</em> pollen.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) symptoms in <em>B.papyrifera</em> pollen season and positive skin prick test (SPT) to <em>B.papyrifera</em> pollen extract were enrolled. Serum sIgE was measured by ImmunoCAP. The pollen crude extract was immunoblotted with patients’ sera. The major allergen was purified and subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. The cDNA of the allergen was cloned from a pollen cDNA library. The antigenicity of recombinant allergen was measured by ELISA. Overlapping peptides spanning the allergen were synthesized. Type 2 T cell epitopes were screened using patients’ PBMC by IL-4 ELISpot. Cross-reactivity of the allergen was evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>B. papyrifera</em>-sIgE was confirmed in 194 of 201 patients by ImmunoCAP. Bro p 3 was identified as major allergen by immunoblot. We purified, cloned the cDNA of, and determined the full-protein sequence of Bro p 3, an nsLTP1 with an average mass of 10264 Da. Recombinant Bro p 3 (rBro p 3) exhibited identical antigenicity as natural Bro p 3, with sensitization rates of 74.53 % and 78.89 %, respectively. Peptides Pep 7–21, Pep 10–24 and Pep 13–27 stimulated IL-4 secretion by T cells from 8, 9 and 8 out of 11 patients. Bro p 3-sIgE sensitization was significantly correlated to elevated sIgE of <em>B. papyrifera</em>, <em>Morus alba</em>, <em>Morus. rubra</em>, and <em>Humulus scandens</em>. It was also associated with the concurrence of conjunctivitis and conjunctivitis plus asthma. No IgE binding was found to the other two <em>B.papyrifera</em> nsLTPs. Bro p 3 inhibited the IgE binding to <em>M. alba</em> and <em>H. scandens</em> pollen extracts.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We demonstrated that Bro p 3 is the major allergen of <em>B. papyrifera</em> pollen and the first allergen from this species with its full sequence determined. The I₇-R₂₇ peptides of Bro p 3 represent its immunodominant type 2 T cell epitopes. Bro p 3 sensitization is relevant to clinical phenotypes and the cross-reactivity between <em>M. alba</em>, <em>H. scandens</em> and <em>B.papyrifera</em> pollen.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 160-170"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143877364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acid-sensing ion channel 1a promotes LPS-induced acute lung injury through the circRNA 18–658/miR-127–5p/TRIM72 axis","authors":"Yangyang Li ,&nbsp;Yueqin Zhu ,&nbsp;Zijun Liu ,&nbsp;Ruohan Ren ,&nbsp;Yuyan Wang ,&nbsp;Yuemei Li ,&nbsp;Anqi Zhang ,&nbsp;Hu Xu ,&nbsp;Ziwen Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Tan ,&nbsp;Zhenxing Ding ,&nbsp;Yan Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious disease with sudden onset, rapid progression, poor treatment response and high mortality. Acid-sensitive ion channels (ASICs) are a type of cation channel activated by extracellular acidification and are involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and immune diseases. Our previous research revealed that ASIC1a promotes ALI, but the specific mechanism is unclear. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of noncoding RNAs that play important roles in the pathological processes of many diseases. However, their role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and their correlation with the ASIC1a channel remain unclear. In this study, via high-throughput sequencing, we investigated the effect of ASIC1a on circRNA expression. We focused on circRNA18–658 and its downstream signaling pathway in rat models of ALI. Our results revealed that ASIC1a promotes ALI through the circRNA18–658/miR-127–5p/TRIM72 axis, providing new targets and ideas for the study of the mechanism of ALI and the development of new drugs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 150-159"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ex vivo pre-activation shifts the in vivo differentiation of adoptively transferred CD8+ T cells in a melanoma model","authors":"Jinjin Lu ,&nbsp;Jianjun Hu ,&nbsp;Ziyao Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiuming Zhai ,&nbsp;Cheng Chen ,&nbsp;Xinyu Zheng ,&nbsp;Yanping Yang ,&nbsp;Yuhao Zheng ,&nbsp;Lilin Ye ,&nbsp;Qin Tian ,&nbsp;Yifei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adoptive transfer of TCR-specific CD8⁺ T cells represents a powerful experimental platform for investigating tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses within the framework of anti-tumor immunity. Genetic modulation of these transferred cells provides a robust strategy to elucidate the intrinsic molecular mechanisms underlying T cell differentiation and functionality, thereby offering critical insights to optimize tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cell antitumor immunity in cancer immunotherapy. A key aspect of this approach is the <em>ex vivo</em> activation of primary T cells, which raises important questions regarding the impact of pre-activation on subsequent T cell differentiation. In this study, we explored the differentiation trajectories of pre-activated CD8⁺ T cells and performed a comprehensive characterization of their epigenetic and transcriptional profiles using a murine melanoma model. Our findings revealed that <em>ex vivo</em> pre-activation not only attenuates progression towards terminal exhaustion in the tumor-draining lymph nodes (TdLNs) but also enhances the stem-like characteristics of CD8⁺ T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Leveraging comprehensive ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analyses, we demonstrated that pre-activation modulates the epigenetic landscape and transcriptional profile of CD8⁺ T cells, fostering effector-related differentiation in the TdLNs while promoting stemness-associated programming in the TME. These findings highlight the profound influence of <em>ex vivo</em> pre-activation on the differentiation pathways of tumor-specific CD8⁺ T cells, underscoring the necessity of taking these experimental framework-induced discrepancies into consideration for more accurate data interpretation in relevant researches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 139-149"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of Perilla frutescens-derived extracellular vesicles: Insights from Zebrafish models","authors":"Jinghong Huang ,&nbsp;Linxin Chen ,&nbsp;Wenhua Li ,&nbsp;Chih-Jung Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant-derived extracellular vesicles have recently been extracted and recognized as promising bioactive molecules, owing to their distinctive biological properties and inherent therapeutic activities. In this study, we investigated the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive properties, and therapeutic potential of <em>Perilla frutescens</em>-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that PELNs exhibited a cup-shaped morphology, with a lipid bilayer and a size distribution ranging from 40 to 200 nm (mean: 68.4 ± 13.0 nm). The cargoes in PELNs were analyzed through multi-omics and small RNA sequencing. <em>In vivo</em> studies on zebrafish demonstrated that PELNs are non-toxic at experimental concentrations. A reduction in neutrophil migration to injured fins evidenced the anti-inflammatory properties of PELNs. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of transcriptomic data identified hundreds of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across 12 samples of three experimental groups. These DEGs were annotated into three categories following gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that these DEGs were involved in immune-related pathways, including complement and coagulation cascades, systemic lupus erythematosus, PPAR signaling pathways, and antigen processing and presentation. Twelve selected DEGs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), with particular confirmation of the <em>mpx</em> and <em>lcp1</em> genes via <em>in situ</em> hybridization. Furthermore, PELNs demonstrated antioxidative effects by mitigating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, as evidenced by measurements of four oxidative stress (OS) indicators (i.e., SOD, CAT, GSH, and MDA) in zebrafish larvae subjected to H₂O₂-induced OS. In summary, PELNs exhibit substantial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, underscoring their potential as therapeutic agents for treating various inflammatory diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 126-138"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neferine reduces synovial inflammation and cardiac complications in a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model via inhibiting NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome axis","authors":"Jingjing Cao ,&nbsp;Huaxing Zhang ,&nbsp;Yanhui Ni ,&nbsp;Xiaoran Ning","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are limited options for drugs with fewer side effects. Neferine possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and cardioprotective properties, but its effectiveness in the treatment of RA remains unclear. Our study aimed to explore the impact of neferine administration on ankle joint inflammation and cardiac complications of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. The CIA model was introduced in male DBA/1 mice via subcutaneous injection of Type II collagen (CII) into the tail. We found that neferine alleviated ankle joint inflammation, cartilage erosion, and bone destruction, as well as reduced the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the serum of CIA mice. Furthermore, neferine reduced the expression of synovial damage markers (RANKL, MMP-3, and MMP-13) in the ankle joints of CIA mice. Mechanistically, neferine lowered the levels of NF-κB pathway-related molecules such as p-IκBα, p-p65, and nuclear p65 in the synovial tissue of CIA mice. Simultaneously, neferine reversed the upregulation of NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved-caspase-1 levels in the synovial tissue of CIA mice. Additionally, our results showed that neferine reduced the contents of myocardial injury markers (cTnI, CK-MB, and LDH), alleviated myocardial fibrosis, decreased expression of α-SMA and Collagen I, as well as mitigated the activation of fibrosis-related TGF-β/Smad signaling. In summary, our study demonstrates that neferine attenuates chondral and synovial inflammation in a CIA mouse model by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome, and neferine has a protective effect on the hearts of CIA mice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 117-125"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"miR-23a-mediated TRF2 repression in CD4 T cells from PLWH","authors":"Lam N.T. Nguyen ,&nbsp;Juan Zhao ,&nbsp;Jaeden S. Pyburn ,&nbsp;Ling Wang ,&nbsp;Madison Schank ,&nbsp;Puja Banik ,&nbsp;Addison C. Hill ,&nbsp;Xiao Y. Wu ,&nbsp;Yi Zhang ,&nbsp;Shunbin Ning ,&nbsp;Mohamed El Gazzar ,&nbsp;Jonathan P. Moorman ,&nbsp;Zhi Q. Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CD4 T cells in people living with HIV (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) often exhibit an inflammaging phenotype, characterized by persistent inflammation, immune activation, exhaustion, senescence, and apoptosis. We have previously demonstrated that inhibition of telomeric repeat factor 2 (TRF2) protein causes accelerated telomere erosion and premature CD4 T cell aging in PLWH. In this study, we further investigated how TRF2 protein is inhibited in CD4 T cells from PLWH, focusing on the miRNA-mediated mechanism. We found that miR-23a is significantly increased, whereas TRF2 protein is repressed, in CD4 T cells from PLWH compared to healthy subjects (HS). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the TRF2 3’UTR is a potential target of miR-23a. Co-transfection of miR-23a with a luciferase construct containing TRF2 3’UTR into HEK293T cells revealed that miR-23a suppresses TRF2 protein translation. Notably, T cell receptor (TCR) activation in CD4 T cells from both PLWH and HS increased miR-23a and decreased TRF2 protein expression. Furthermore, increasing miR-23a in CD4 T cells from HS led to a decrease in TRF2 protein level and an increase in cellular apoptosis - a phenotype similar to what we observed in PLWH. Moreover, the knockdown of miR-23a in CD4 T cells from PLWH increased TRF2, but not TRF1, protein levels. These results suggest that miR-23a negatively regulates TRF2 protein expression in CD4 T cells; thus, targeting miR-23a may increase TRF2 protein level, and thereby protect telomere integrity and restore CD4 T cell functions in PLWH.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 107-116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143847910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Steap3 is a key node in regulating the phagosome escape of Listeria monocytogenes","authors":"Zhangfu Li ,&nbsp;Yan Shao ,&nbsp;Xiao Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoyuan Wan ,&nbsp;Pei Xiong ,&nbsp;Liting Wang ,&nbsp;Jiangbei Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Listeria monocytogenes</em>, a foodborne pathogen, poses a significant threat to human health due to its high mortality rate and increasing antibiotic resistance. This study investigates the role of Steap3 in regulating the early phagosomal escape of <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em>. We found that Steap3 expression is downregulated in dendritic and intestinal epithelial cells following infection, and its deficiency exacerbates bacterial proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Steap3 interacts with Gm2a and Sting to inhibit <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> infection. Our results highlight Steap3 as a key regulator in dendritic and intestinal epithelial cells’ defense against <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> infection, suggesting the Steap3-STING/Gm2a axis is a potential therapeutic target for listeriosis. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> pathogenesis and host immune response, offering new directions for developing anti-<em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 96-106"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143842912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Methotrexate loaded extracellular vesicles attenuate periodontitis by suppressing ACSL1 and promoting anti-inflammatory macrophage","authors":"Zhi Liu ,&nbsp;Jianhua Yang ,&nbsp;Guodong Tan ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Shi ,&nbsp;Dihao Tao ,&nbsp;Wenzhe Wang ,&nbsp;Bei Li ,&nbsp;Fang Jin ,&nbsp;Xiaoning He","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Macrophages are crucial immune cells in periodontal tissues, which play key roles in both the destruction and repair of associated with periodontitis. Targeted modulation of macrophage function has emerged as a potentially effective approach to influence periodontitis progression. This study investigates the effects of methotrexate-loaded extracellular vesicles (MTX-EVs) on inflammatory macrophage polarization both in vivo and in vitro. In a murine periodontitis model, MTX-EVs inhibited alveolar bone resorption, suppressed pro-inflammatory macrophage activation, and promoted anti-inflammatory macrophages. Mechanistically, MTX-EVs reduced acyl-CoA synthetase-1 (ACSL1) expression, which was elevated during inflammation. Inhibition of ACSL1 with triacsin-C in macrophages suppressed the inflammatory phenotype through the promotion of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In contrast, MTX-EVs counteracted the effects of ACSL1 overexpression on macrophage polarization and metabolism. Our findings suggest that targeting ACSL1 via MTX-EVs represents a therapeutic strategy for modulating macrophage polarization and improving periodontitis treatment outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 83-95"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143834255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"HLA Class I and II allelic diversity among Ecuadorian transplant candidates: A comprehensive retrospective analysis","authors":"Erick Velasteguí ,&nbsp;María Esther Castillo ,&nbsp;Felipe Ortiz ,&nbsp;Sofía Espín ,&nbsp;Eduardo Espinel ,&nbsp;Luis Alberto Loyola ,&nbsp;David Báez-Cevallos ,&nbsp;Nikolaos C. Kyriakidis ,&nbsp;Daniel Romero-Alvarez ,&nbsp;Isabel Baroja ,&nbsp;Carlos Bastidas-Caldes","doi":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.03.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.molimm.2025.03.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) comprises over 220 genes encoding proteins that are vital for the functioning of the immune system. These genes are divided into three classes: HLA class I, II, and III. The polymorphism of MHC genes serves to enhance the immune response by increasing the diversity of antigen presentation. In Ecuador, a country with a diverse population comprising numerous ethnic groups, it is crucial to comprehend the distribution of HLA alleles in order to facilitate several health approaches such as personalized medicine and organ transplantation. The present study employed data from Ecuador's National Institute of Organ, Tissue, and Cell Donation and Transplantation (INDOT) from 2017 to 2022. The data were analyzed to determine the distribution of HLA class I (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C) and class II (HLA-DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, DQB1) alleles. A total of 1530 HLA alleles were identified among the 2352 patients included in the study. The highest variability was observed in Class I alleles, with HLA-A02 (32 %) and HLA-B35 (21 %) being the most common. In the case of class II, the most prevalent alleles were DRB104 and DQB103, with frequencies of 25.1 % and 48 %, respectively. It is notable that significant regional variations in allele frequencies were observed across Ecuador. The findings of this comprehensive study provide valuable insights into Ecuador's HLA allele distribution, contributing to genetic research, personalized medicine, and organ transplant matching. However, the results also highlight the need for further studies to better understand genetic diversity and improve public health strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18938,"journal":{"name":"Molecular immunology","volume":"182 ","pages":"Pages 76-82"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143830355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}