title: Expression of CD1D mRNA transcripts in human choriocarcinoma cell lines and placentally derived trophoblast cells.
abstract: Human placental trophoblast is critically involved in mediating maternal tolerance of the fetal semiallograft. Genes encoding highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II antigens that could provoke maternal immune rejection responses are silenced in trophoblast. However, several MHC class I or class I-related products exhibiting reduced or negligible polymorphism are expressed and assumed to be functionally involved in maintaining pregnancy. The CD1 gene family encodes non-polymorphic MHC class I-like products that have the unusual ability to present non-peptide antigens to T cells. One member, CD1D, is expressed in certain epithelial cells and interacts with a specific T-cell subset that may promote the development of Th2-mediated responses believed to be associated with pregnancy. In this study we examined the expression of CD1D in human trophoblast cell lines and placentally derived trophoblast cells by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using CD1D-specific oligonucleotide primers. We have found that CD1D mRNA transcripts are expressed in trophoblast cells and cell lines. We have also identified a novel alternatively spliced CD1D mRNA transcript lacking exon 4. Exon 4-intact and exon 4-deficient CD1D transcripts appear to be differentially expressed in different trophoblast and non-trophoblast cell populations. Our studies suggest that at least one member of the CD1 family is transcribed in human trophoblast.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Medicine (Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology), St. Michael's Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wainwright
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fotiadou
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018949:Antigens, CD1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm