Evidence That CD31, CD49b, and CD62L Are Immunodominant Minor Histocompatibility Antigens in HLA Identical Sibling Bone Marrow Transplants

Despite complete matching of siblings for the HLA loci, after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), approximately 20% develop graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This is presumably due to incompatibility of minor histocompatibility antigens (mHa). We investigated the polymorphisms of 14 adhesion molecules (CD2, CD28, CD31, CD34, CD36, CD42, CD44, CD48, CD49b, CD54, CD62L, CD86, CD102, and CD106) in Japanese subjects and their association with the occurrence of GVHD after allogeneic HLA identical BMT. Six molecules (CD2, CD31, CD42, CD49b, CD54, and CD62L), which were found to be polymorphic, were then examined in 118 HLA identical sibling donors and recipients who had undergone BMT. Association of the incompatibility of the polymorphic molecules with the presence or absence of GVHD was examined. In these six, we observed a significant correlation between acute GVHD and the compatibility of CD31 (codons 563/670) ( Pcorrected = .018), and CD31 (codons 563/670) + CD62L ( Pcorrected = .018) in patients with the HLA-B44–like superfamily. In patients with the HLA-A3–like superfamily, the compatibility of CD62L ( Pcorrected = .03) and CD62L + CD49b ( P = .004, Pcorrected = .078) was associated with acute GVHD. Therefore, CD31, CD49b, and CD62L might be candidates for immunodominant mHa. © 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.