Anti HLA-C presensitization in kidney Transplant recipients. Preliminary data on the epitope specificity of HLA-C antibodies.

Production of anti HLA-A and/or B antibodies had been largely demonstrated in renal transplant candidates with history of exposure to sensitizing events (transfusions, pregnancies or previous transplants). Limited information is available concerning antibodies against HLA-C molecules, possibly due to the extreme difficulties in their identification by means of commonly used serologic techniques. In serum samples from HLA class I presensitized renal transplant recipients we determined and characterized anti HLA-C antibodies by means of sensitive and specific flow cytometric techniques. Epitope specificity of the detected antibodies was also investigated.