Maternal antigen presenting cells are a source of plasmatic HLA-G during pregnancy: longitudinal study during pregnancy

Hum Immunol. 2007 Aug;68(8):661-7. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2007.04.007. Epub 2007 May 25.

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the longitudinal evolution of plasmatic soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G: shed HLA-G1 plus HLA-G5) during pregnancy, and if peripheral maternal antigen presenting cells (APC) can be a source of sHLA-G. Blood samples were obtained from 45 volunteers during normal pregnancy, 8 of them monthly; from 8 pregnant volunteers in the first weeks of pregnancy who had later a miscarriage, and from 14 healthy nonpregnant control women. Monocytes obtained during pregnancy showed a moderately HLA-G cell surface expression and stimulation with interferon (IFN)-gamma increased this expression. Monocytes-derived dendritic cells obtained from pregnant women during the first and third trimester of pregnancy secreted more sHLA-G than those obtained from nonpregnant women. Plasmatic sHLA-G concentration in pregnant women was significatively higher than in nonpregnant women, with a peak in the third month. We can conclude that maternal APC are a source of sHLA-G. Women who experienced miscarriage had previously very low or undetectable plasmatic sHLA-G levels in the second month of pregnancy. Data suggest that undetectable sHLA-G could be a risk of complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Female
  • HLA Antigens / blood*
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / blood*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Pregnancy / immunology*
  • Pregnancy Complications / etiology
  • Pregnancy Trimesters / immunology
  • Pregnancy Trimesters / physiology
  • Risk Factors

Substances

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