Postpartum-activation of multiple sclerosis is associated with down-regulation of tolerogenic HLA-G

J Neuroimmunol. 2007 Jul;187(1-2):205-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2007.05.008. Epub 2007 Jun 11.

Abstract

We used microarray analysis to obtain insights into the immuno-regulatory mechanisms controlling pregnancy-associated MS disease activity. We studied expression levels of 5000 immune-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with relapsing-remitting MS during pregnancy and postpartum and in comparison to controls. In the microarray analysis, HLA-G, a non-classical major histocompatibility molecule mainly attributed with immune-tolerogenic functions, was found differentially regulated between MS patients and controls. The finding was corroborated and extended by real-time PCR, flow-cytometry and ELISA in a larger patient sample. The results delineate an important role for the immune-tolerogenic molecule HLA-G in modulating disease activity and pregnancy-related changes in MS patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Down-Regulation / physiology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism*
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis / etiology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods
  • Postpartum Period*
  • Pregnancy
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I