Jornal Brasileiro de Patologia e Medicina Laboratorial (May 2020)
Evaluation of HLA-G immune checkpoint molecule in melanocytic lesions
Abstract
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ABSTRACT The human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a non-classical molecule of the major histocompatibility complex. HLA-G has been associated with the process of tumorigenesis and tumor escape. In this study, we aim to evaluate the HLA-G expression in melanocytic lesions and in melanoma for determining when melanocytic lesions start its expression. Twenty-two skin biopsies samples were submitted to immunohistochemistry; HLA-G expression was detected in 63.6% of the samples. This expression in melanocytic cells was significantly higher in melanoma than in benign melanocytic lesions (p < 0.002). Our results suggest that HLA-G expression starts late in the process of tumorigenesis.
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