Human trophoblast interferons enhance major histocompatibility complex class I antigen expression on human term trophoblast cells in culture.
The expression and regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I) antigens by virus-induced human trophoblast interferons (tro-IFNs) were examined in term trophoblast cultures. Flow cytometry studies using fluorescence monoclonal antibodies against MHC class I antigens revealed that isolated cytotrophoblasts can express MHC class I antigens. The expression of these antigens increased with stimulation of trophoblast cultures with tro-IFN-alpha and -beta. One hundred IU tro-IFN-alpha and -beta/ml induced no significant higher levels of MHC class I antigens as compared with the control, whereas 1000 IU tro-IFN-alpha and -beta/ml did. The tro-IFN-enhanced expression of MHC class I antigens may be important as it increases the efficiency of local and viral antigen presentation, cytotoxicity by T cell response and local inflammatory processes, thereby preventing virus spread from mother to fetus.
Danish Cancer Society, Department of Virus and Cancer, Aarhus.
H
H
Hager
G
G
Aboagye-Mathiesen
P M
PM
Petersen
N
N
Nørskov-Lauritsen
C B
CB
Juhl
J A
JA
Villadsen
M
M
Zdravkovic
A
A
Gildberg
A M
AM
Dalsgaard
P
P
Ebbesen
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta