Temporal and spatial expression of HLA-G messenger RNA in extraembryonic tissues of transgenic mice.
HLA-G, a nonclassical class I molecule, is expressed by trophoblasts, the only fetal cells in direct contact with maternal tissue. Results of previous experiments suggested that a 244-bp region located over 1 kb 5' from exon 1 is critical for extraembryonic expression of HLA-G in transgenic mice. We report here the production of HLA-G transgenic lines with a 6.0-kb HLA-G transgene that includes the 244-bp region. These lines exhibit copy number-dependent and developmentally appropriate transgene expression. One HLA-G transgenic line, G.3.2, exhibits extraembryonic HLA-G mRNA expression levels similar to those seen in human extraembryonic tissues. Studies of the cell-type-specific localization of HLA-G mRNA in placentas from the G.3.2 HLA-G transgenic mouse line show predominant localization of the HLA-G message in the spongiotrophoblast layer. This layer is in a similar anatomic location to the HLA-G-expressing human cytotrophoblast shell. The G.3.2 HLA-G transgenic mouse line should serve as an appropriate model for the study of HLA-G function at the maternal-fetal interface.
Schmidt
C M
CM
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Chen
H L
HL
Chiu
I
I
Ehlenfeldt
R G
RG
Hunt
J S
JS
Orr
H T
HT
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000502:physiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D012333:RNA, Messenger