title: Population genetic studies of HLA-G: allele frequencies and linkage disequilibrium with HLA-A1.
abstract: HLA-G is a class I gene that is expressed in the extravillous cytotrophoblast. Although the function of this gene is still unknown, its expression at the maternal-fetal interface suggests that HLA-G may play a key role in the induction of tolerance during pregnancy. Preliminary to our studies of the effects of HLA-G polymorphisms on pregnancy outcome, we have defined HLA-G alleles in the Hutterites. We report here the presence of nine HLA-G alleles that differ with respect to nucleotide sequences, including four groups of alleles that differ with respect to amino acid sequences, and striking linkage disequilibrium between HLA-G and HLA-A alleles. The levels and sites of polymorphism in HLA-G suggest that this gene had a unique evolutionary history and may perform nonclassical functions at the maternal-fetal interface.
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ober
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosinsky
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimsley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van der Ven
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Runge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I