Problem Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G is a class Ib gene located in the human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Several lines of investigation indicate that the HLA-G molecule is involved in the maternal acceptance of the semi-allogenic fetus during pregnancy and in development of tolerance. Expression of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) is positively correlated with successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, and aberrant expression of HLA-G in certain complications of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and spontaneous abortion, has been reported. Method of study Soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) can be detected in maternal blood, and in this study, two different isoforms of sHLA-G, namely sHLA-G1 generated by shedding of membrane-bound HLA-G1 and HLA-G generated by specific HLA-G transcripts, have been investigated early (median of 16.4 weeks of gestation (GW)) and late (median: 38.9 GW) in pregnancy in an original cohort of 580 pregnant Caucasian women. Results Lower concentrations of sHLA-G1 were found late in pregnancy (>32 GW) in a group of women with severe pre-eclampsia compared with controls with uncomplicated pregnancies (P = 0.029, PC = 0.09; Mann-Whitney; Logistic regression analysis: P = 0.024, OR = 0.920, 95% CI 0.855-0.989). However, this was not the case with HLA-G5, and significant more of the cases with severe pre-eclampsia had detectable plasma HLA-G5 compared with the control group (P = 0.013, PC = 0.04; Mann-Whitney). Similar findings were not observed in women with gestational hypertension or existing hypertension continuing into pregnancy. Conclusion These results indicate that sHLA-G1 is the interesting soluble HLA-G isoform in pre-eclampsia. Furthermore, there was a trend towards lower maternal plasma sHLA-G1 in a group of women with premature birth (<37 GW) compared with the control group (P = 0.028, PC = 0.17; Mann-Whitney). To the contrary, HLA-G5 was lower in the control group compared to the premature group (P = 0.004, PC = 0.02; Mann-Whitney). Interestingly, a trend towards lower sHLA-G1/HLA-G5 and HLA-G1 plasma levels late in pregnancy were observed in women with their second or third partus compared to primipara (sHLA-G1/HLA-G5: P = 0.080, PC = 0.48; sHLA-G1: P = 0.017, PC = 0.10; Kruskal Wallis test).
Soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen-G Isoforms in Maternal Plasma in Early and Late Pregnancy
RIZZO, Roberta;STIGNANI, Marina;BARICORDI, Olavio;
2009
Abstract
Problem Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G is a class Ib gene located in the human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Several lines of investigation indicate that the HLA-G molecule is involved in the maternal acceptance of the semi-allogenic fetus during pregnancy and in development of tolerance. Expression of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) is positively correlated with successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, and aberrant expression of HLA-G in certain complications of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and spontaneous abortion, has been reported. Method of study Soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) can be detected in maternal blood, and in this study, two different isoforms of sHLA-G, namely sHLA-G1 generated by shedding of membrane-bound HLA-G1 and HLA-G generated by specific HLA-G transcripts, have been investigated early (median of 16.4 weeks of gestation (GW)) and late (median: 38.9 GW) in pregnancy in an original cohort of 580 pregnant Caucasian women. Results Lower concentrations of sHLA-G1 were found late in pregnancy (>32 GW) in a group of women with severe pre-eclampsia compared with controls with uncomplicated pregnancies (P = 0.029, PC = 0.09; Mann-Whitney; Logistic regression analysis: P = 0.024, OR = 0.920, 95% CI 0.855-0.989). However, this was not the case with HLA-G5, and significant more of the cases with severe pre-eclampsia had detectable plasma HLA-G5 compared with the control group (P = 0.013, PC = 0.04; Mann-Whitney). Similar findings were not observed in women with gestational hypertension or existing hypertension continuing into pregnancy. Conclusion These results indicate that sHLA-G1 is the interesting soluble HLA-G isoform in pre-eclampsia. Furthermore, there was a trend towards lower maternal plasma sHLA-G1 in a group of women with premature birth (<37 GW) compared with the control group (P = 0.028, PC = 0.17; Mann-Whitney). To the contrary, HLA-G5 was lower in the control group compared to the premature group (P = 0.004, PC = 0.02; Mann-Whitney). Interestingly, a trend towards lower sHLA-G1/HLA-G5 and HLA-G1 plasma levels late in pregnancy were observed in women with their second or third partus compared to primipara (sHLA-G1/HLA-G5: P = 0.080, PC = 0.48; sHLA-G1: P = 0.017, PC = 0.10; Kruskal Wallis test).I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
