Altered expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) on extravillous trophoblasts in preeclampsia: immunohistological demonstration with anti-HLA-G specific antibody "87G" and anti-cytokeratin antibody "CAM5.2".
OBJECTIVE
Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is suggested to be at play in the materno-fetal immune relationship during pregnancy. In the light of current concept that disruption of the materno-fetal immune relationship could account for several complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, we asked whether the expression of HLA-G protein on the trophoblasts is altered in preeclampsia.


METHODS
The presence of HLA-G protein in the extravillous trophoblasts in placenta obtained from five preeclamptic patients and seven uncomplicated pregnant women was determined by means of an immunohistochemical technique.


RESULTS
All of the extravillous trophoblasts, which were stained for cytokeratin, were stained for HLA-G protein in every woman with an uncomplicated pregnancy. In contrast, clusters of extravillous trophoblasts were insularly devoid of the staining for HLA-G in all the preeclamptic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The attenuated expression of HLA-G protein on the extravillous trophoblasts could be at play in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Hara
N
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Fujii
T
T
Yamashita
T
T
Kozuma
S
S
Okai
T
T
Taketani
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000276:immunology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007633:Keratins