Effects of genotype matching of feline major histocompatibility complex (FLA) class II DRB on skin-allograft transplantation in cats

In order to confirm the effects of matching of expressed feline major histo compatibility complex (FLA) class II DRB genotype on transplantation immuni ty in cats, skin-allogeneic transplantation was carried out between cats, i n which DRB genes expressed were genotyped by the RT-PCR-RFLP method using group-specific primers. Duration until grafts were rejected was 14.63 +/- 1 .69 days (mean standard deviation) in the pairs that had the same type of s ubgroups. 7.25 +/- 0.71 days in the pairs that had one different type of su bgroup and 6.88 +/- 0.35 days in the pairs that had two different types of subgroups. The duration of graft survival in the pairs with the same type o f subgroups was significantly longer (P < 0.01) than those in the pairs wit h different types. Although FLA components involved in transplantation immu nity should not only be DRB genes, it was suggested that the expressed FLA- DRB genotype might associate with feline transplantation immunity, and that typing and matching of expressed FLA-DRB genes might be one of the importa nt factors in the control of feline transplantation immunity.