BACKGROUNDIt has been confirmed that human leucocyte antigen (HLA) may play very important roles in the process of antigen presenting and antigen distinguishing. HLA has a close relationship with the immunity killing and immunity escape in cancer. HLA-ABDR alleles were detected in A549 and Calu-6 lung cancer cell lines by PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) in this research.

METHODSDNA of A549 and Calu-6 was purified and PCR-SSP was practiced. Then the gel was scanned in ultra-violet. HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DR were determined with special response list.

RESULTSHLA-A and HLA-B in A549 and Calu-6 were not integral, but HLA-DR was integral. The genotype of HLA-ABDR for A549 was: HLA-A30, HLA-B44, HLA-DR7/HLA-DR53. The genotype of HLA-ABDR for Calu-6 was: HLA-A01, HLA-B08, HLA-DR17/HLA-DR52.

CONCLUSIONSHuman adenocarcinoma cell line exists both HLA-I and HLA-II genotypes. Selective loss of HLA-I gene might be occured during tumor generation, but all the HLA-II genes remain. Detection of tumor HLA is necessary to the acknowledgment of tumor immunology behavior and foundation of tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte.