How to measure human leukocyte antigen-specific B cells
Delphine Kervella1,2, Alba Torija1,2, Jose M Zúñiga1,2
1Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Department.
Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation
|September 7, 2023
Summary
New tests identify human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific memory B cells (mBCs), crucial for understanding transplant rejection. Further clinical evaluation is needed to refine alloimmune risk stratification and guide therapies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Transplantation
- B-cell biology
Background:
- Highly sensitive immune assays for anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies have improved alloimmune risk stratification and rejection diagnosis.
- Anti-HLA antibodies are downstream effectors of B-cell responses; characterizing cellular components like memory B cells (mBCs) can enhance risk stratification and identify therapeutic targets.
Conclusions:
- Technological advancements have enabled the development of assays for detecting HLA-specific mBCs.
- Urgent need for clinical trial evaluation of these assays for immune risk stratification and assessment of treatment efficacy in antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR).


