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Jacobsen DP, Lekva T, Moe K, Fjeldstad HES, Johnsen GM, Sugulle M, Staff AC. Pregnancy and postpartum levels of circulating maternal sHLA-G in preeclampsia. J Reprod Immunol 2020; 143:103249. [PMID: 33254097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2020.103249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and offspring mortality and morbidity, and predicts increased future cardiovascular disease risk. Placental dysfunction and immune system dysregulation are likely key pathophysiological factors. Soluble human leukocyte antigen G (sHLA-G) may dampen the specific immune response towards placental trophoblasts. Previous studies have shown low sHLA-G levels in preeclampsia, but postpartum, levels are unknown. Furthermore, the relationship between sHLA-G and sFlt-1 and PlGF, placental function markers, is unknown. We hypothesized that low maternal sHLA-G during pregnancy would be associated with placental dysfunction, including preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and dysregulated sFlt-1 and PlGF, and that sHLA-G would remain decreased following preeclampsia. We included 316 pregnant women: 58 with early-onset preeclampsia (<34 weeks' gestation), 81 with late-onset preeclampsia (≥34 weeks' gestation), 25 with gestational hypertension, and 152 normotensive controls. Postpartum (1 or 3 years), we included 321 women: 29 with early-onset preeclampsia, 98 with late-onset preeclampsia, 57 with gestational hypertension, and 137 who were normotensive during their index pregnancies. In pregnancy, plasma sHLA-G was significantly lower both in the early- and late-onset preeclampsia groups compared to controls. In women with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, sHLA-G was inversely correlated with serum sFlt-1. Postpartum, plasma sHLA-G levels were significantly higher in women who had had early-onset preeclampsia compared to controls. Our results support that sHLA-G may be important for placental function. Unexpectedly, sHLA-G was elevated up to 3 years after early-onset preeclampsia, suggesting an excessively activated immune system following this severe preeclampsia form, potentially contributing to future cardiovascular disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel P Jacobsen
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
| | - Tove Lekva
- Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Kjartan Moe
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bærum Hospital, Vestre Viken HF, Norway
| | - Heidi E S Fjeldstad
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Guro Mørk Johnsen
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Meryam Sugulle
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Cathrine Staff
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway; Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
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Djurisic S, Teiblum S, Tolstrup C, Christiansen O, Hviid T. Allelic imbalance modulates surface expression of the tolerance-inducing HLA-G molecule on primary trophoblast cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:281-95. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gau108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Hviid TVF, Hylenius S, Rørbye C, Nielsen LG. HLA-G allelic variants are associated with differences in the HLA-G mRNA isoform profile and HLA-G mRNA levels. Immunogenetics 2003; 55:63-79. [PMID: 12712263 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-003-0547-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 285] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2002] [Revised: 01/22/2003] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the human extra-villous trophoblast in the contact zone between maternal and fetal tissue in the placenta does not express the classical MHC class I and II molecules. Instead, HLA-G and -C, and possibly HLA-E, are expressed. HLA-G may modulate the immunological relationship between mother and fetus in several ways. Finally, the expression of membrane-bound HLA-G and soluble HLA-G has been proposed to influence the outcome of pregnancy, and an aberrant HLA-G expression in pre-eclamptic placentas and spontaneous abortions has been reported. Here, an association between certain HLA-G polymorphisms and the mRNA levels of the different alternatively spliced HLA-G isoforms in first trimester trophoblast cell populations is reported. Several alternatively spliced HLA-G mRNA isoforms, including a 14-bp polymorphism in the 3'UTR end (exon 8) of the HLA-G gene, are expressed at a significantly lower level than the corresponding HLA-G mRNA isoforms with the 14-bp sequence deleted. Furthermore, characteristic HLA-G mRNA isoform expression patterns were associated with specific HLA-G genotypes and alleles. In the HLA-G*01012 and - G*01013 alleles that include the 14-bp sequence, an additional alternative splicing was observed, with the first 92-bp of exon 8 spliced out. This was most pronounced in HLA-G genotypes with G*01013. These findings may have functional implications for the recent reports of aberrant HLA-G expression and reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Vauvert F Hviid
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, H:S Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, 30 Kettegaard Allé, 2650, Hvidovre, Denmark.
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Goldman-Wohl D, Ariel I, Greenfield C, Hochner-Celnikier D, Lavy Y, Yagel S. A study of human leukocyte antigen G expression in hydatidiform moles. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001; 185:476-80. [PMID: 11518912 DOI: 10.1067/mob.2001.115994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a nonclassic major histocompatibility gene normally expressed only in extravillous trophoblasts throughout pregnancy. It may be responsible in part for the successful evasion of the hemiallogenic trophoblasts from maternal immune surveillance. We investigated whether HLA-G is expressed in molar pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN We examined 5 complete hydatidiform mole specimens and 5 partial hydatidiform mole specimens to determine whether HLA-G is expressed by immunohistochemistry and by RNA in situ hybridization analysis. RESULTS We found that both the protein and RNA of HLA-G is expressed in complete and partial hydatidiform moles. CONCLUSION HLA-G RNA and protein are expressed in molar pregnancies. HLA-G expression is independent of embryonic development and may therefore be an integral part of placental development. Furthermore, expression of HLA-G in the complete hydatidiform mole, a naturally occurring androgenote, confirms expression of the paternal allele of HLA-G. Imprinting of HLA-G is therefore unlikely to play a role in protecting fetal trophoblasts from maternal immune rejection.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Goldman-Wohl
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
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King A, Burrows TD, Hiby SE, Bowen JM, Joseph S, Verma S, Lim PB, Gardner L, Le Bouteiller P, Ziegler A, Uchanska-Ziegler B, Loke YW. Surface expression of HLA-C antigen by human extravillous trophoblast. Placenta 2000; 21:376-87. [PMID: 10833373 DOI: 10.1053/plac.1999.0496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In this paper definitive evidence that the classical class I product, HLA-C, is expressed on the surface of normal trophoblast cells is provided. HLA-C transcripts were sequenced from cDNA isolated from first trimester trophoblast cells obtained by flow cytometric sorting. Both paternal and maternal alleles were transcribed. HLA-C proteins were demonstrated by biochemical analysis and found on the cell surface in association with beta(2)-microglobulin. Upregulation of cell surface HLA-C but not HLA-G expression after interferon (IFN)-gamma treatment was demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis. Immunohistology has confirmed HLA-C is expressed by all extravillous subpopulations in vivo. The question of whether trophoblast HLA-C molecules interact with decidual NK cells expressing killer Ig-like receptors (KIR) has also been addressed. Our results demonstrate that extravillous trophoblast expresses at least two HLA class I molecules, HLA-G and HLA-C on the cell surface.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Antigens, Surface/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Choriocarcinoma/metabolism
- Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
- HLA Antigens/biosynthesis
- HLA-C Antigens/biosynthesis
- HLA-C Antigens/genetics
- HLA-G Antigens
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/biosynthesis
- Humans
- Interferon-gamma/pharmacology
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Pregnancy
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Immunologic/immunology
- Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism
- Receptors, KIR
- Receptors, KIR2DL1
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Trophoblasts/drug effects
- Trophoblasts/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Up-Regulation
- beta 2-Microglobulin/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- A King
- Research Group in Human Reproductive Immunobiology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK.
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Bainbridge DRJ, Ellis SA, Sargent IL. Little Evidence of HLA-G mRNA Polymorphism in Caucasian or Afro-Caribbean Populations. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 1999. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.163.4.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
HLA-G is a nonclassical class I MHC molecule of unknown function expressed on human trophoblast. The level of polymorphism at the HLA-G locus is of considerable importance, since the paternally inherited gene product is exposed to the maternal immune system during pregnancy. However, previous studies of HLA-G polymorphism using genomic DNA samples have produced conflicting results. Our aim was to investigate polymorphism in trophoblast HLA-G mRNA from pregnancies in ten Caucasian and twelve Afro-Caribbean women by RT-PCR. A similar PCR protocol was also applied to umbilical cord blood genomic DNA from two Caucasian and two Afro-Caribbean neonates. Caucasian cDNA yielded only two different sequences: G*01011, and one containing a previously reported synonymous substitution. Afro-Caribbean samples yielded these sequences as well as one previously reported conservative (leucine-to-isoleucine) substitution. PCR amplification from genomic DNA samples from both populations using previously published primer pairs generated sequences containing multiple substitutions, many of which were nonsynonymous. More than two sequences were produced from genomic DNA from each individual. In contrast, amplification from the same genomic DNA using new primers complementary to exons of the HLA-G gene yielded the same few sequences generated from cDNA. These results suggest that polymorphism at the HLA-G locus is extremely limited in Caucasian and Afro-Caribbean populations. This suggests that spurious polymorphism has been reported in African Americans due to the use of intron-complementary PCR primers on genomic DNA samples. The monomorphic nature of HLA-G may allow trophoblast to carry out the immunological functions of class I-bearing tissues without compromising successful pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R. J. Bainbridge
- *Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oxford University, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom; and
| | - Shirley A. Ellis
- †Institute for Animal Health, Compton, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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Puppo F, Costa M, Contini P, Brenci S, Cevasco E, Ghio M, Norelli R, Bensussan A, Capitanio GL, Indiveri F. Determination of soluble HLA-G and HLA-A, -B, and -C molecules in pregnancy. Transplant Proc 1999; 31:1841-3. [PMID: 10371968 DOI: 10.1016/s0041-1345(99)00183-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F Puppo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Italy
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Hviid TV, Morling N. Survival of fetuses and viruses: universal mechanisms of co-existence with an immunological potent host. Am J Reprod Immunol 1999; 41:353-5. [PMID: 10378031 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1999.tb00449.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- T V Hviid
- Copenhagen hospital Corporation, Department of Clinical Biochemistry 339, Hvidovre, Denmark
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Hiby SE, King A, Sharkey A, Loke YW. Molecular studies of trophoblast HLA-G: polymorphism, isoforms, imprinting and expression in preimplantation embryo. TISSUE ANTIGENS 1999; 53:1-13. [PMID: 10082426 DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-0039.1999.530101.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
There is considerable interest in human HLA-G arising from the observation that it is expressed selectively on the surface of extravillous trophoblast, the fetal cell population directly in contact with the mother. We investigated several aspects of the molecular biology of this unusual molecule. Limited polymorphism at the nucleotide level, and even more restricted variation at the amino acid level, was found in our Caucasian population. A further unusual aspect of HLA-G is the occurrence of alternatively spliced mRNAs. Spliced messages that could give rise to either membrane-bound or soluble proteins have been reported and six of these alternative forms were detected in all first trimester and term placentae, highly purified villous and extravillous trophoblast and the cell lines, JEG-3 and 221-G. An additional novel splice variant involving loss of part of the 3'-untranslated region was observed with two alleles. Using a sensitive RNase protection assay higher levels of the membrane-bound RNAs as compared to the soluble forms were detected in first trimester and term placentae as well as in JEG-3. Contrary to previous findings our term samples taken from the maternal aspect showed higher levels of both mRNA species when compared to first trimester placenta. The question of imprinting was addressed through the detection of heterozygotes both in placental tissue and, more tellingly, in the purified trophoblast cells. There was no evidence of imprinting. In addition we did not find mRNA for HLA-G in human two to eight-cell embryos or in blastocyst or in sperm samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Hiby
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Hviid TV, Møller C, Sørensen S, Morling N. Co-dominant expression of the HLA-G gene and various forms of alternatively spliced HLA-G mRNA in human first trimester trophoblast. Hum Immunol 1998; 59:87-98. [PMID: 9536431 DOI: 10.1016/s0198-8859(97)00259-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genes may be silenced at the transcriptional level by 'genomic imprinting' in such a way that only one of the parental alleles is expressed. Imprinting may be tissue-specific and in some cases it seems also to be time-dependent during development. The phenomenon has been studied in pre- and post-implantation developmental processes. Animal studies of genomic imprinting of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens in the placenta have shown discordant results. To address this issue in the human placenta, we examined the expression of the non-classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I gene, HLA-G. Genomic imprinting of the HLA-G locus could have implications for the interaction in the feto-maternal relationship. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP), allele-specific amplification and Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) analysis followed by DNA sequencing were performed on Reverse Transcription (RT) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) products of HLA-G mRNA to examine the expression of maternal and paternal alleles. Our results demonstrate that HLA-G is co-dominantly expressed in first trimester trophoblast cells. A "new" non-synonymous base substitution in exon 4 was detected. We also investigated the different alternatively spliced forms of HLA-G mRNA in first trimester trophoblast and found the full-length transcript to be the far most abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- T V Hviid
- Copenhagen Hospital Corporation, Denmark
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