Presence of HLA-G-expressing cells modulates the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to release cytokines.
OBJECTIVE
Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is thought to be at play in maternal-fetal immune interplay during pregnancy. Whether the expression of HLA-G protein on the target cells altered the release of cytokines from effector mononuclear cells was questioned.


METHODS
The amounts of cytokines released from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cocultured with or without HLA-G-expressing target cells were compared.


RESULTS
When cocultured with HLA-G-expressing target cell lines, the amounts of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) released from PBMC were increased, whereas the amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Mononuclear cells, if cultured with HLA-G-expressing cells, modulate their ability to release cytokines, suggesting a role of HLA-G in triggering maternal-fetal immune interplay and thereby maintaining pregnancy.
Maejima
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Fujii
T
T
Kozuma
S
S
Okai
T
T
Shibata
Y
Y
Taketani
Y
Y
D002460:Cell Line; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007377:Interleukin-3; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha