title: Comparison of the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G and HLA-E in women with normal pregnancy and those with recurrent miscarriage.
abstract: Recurrent miscarriage affects 1% of all couples attempting pregnancy. Immunological factors are postulated to play a role in the aetiology of recurrent miscarriage because the fetus and placenta are immunologically different from the mother. In particular, altered expression of the, non-classical, class I histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules has been postulated to play a role in the aetiology of recurrent miscarriage as the fetus and placenta are semi-allogenic to the mother. This study was conducted to examine whether altered expression of the non-classical class I HLA molecules, HLA-G and HLA-E, by cells at the maternofetal interface could play a role in the aetiology of recurrent miscarriage. First-trimester placental and decidual biopsies were obtained from 45 women with recurrent miscarriage and 17 gestation-matched normal controls. These biopsies were screened by immunohistochemistry for HLA-G and HLA-E and isotype-matched control antibodies. Staining was analysed by light microscopy and digital image analysis. In both recurrent miscarriage and normal pregnancy, HLA-G was localised to the extravillous trophoblast. There was no difference in the pattern of HLA-G expression between women with recurrent miscarriage and those with normal pregnancies. HLA-E was localised to the syncytiotrophoblast, villous mesenchymal cells, extravillous trophoblast and several decidual cell types, but staining for HLA-E appeared to be confined primarily to the cytoplasm. There was no difference in the pattern of HLA-E expression between women with recurrent miscarriage and those with normal pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Room 3241, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Liddell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanderigo
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chamley
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000097625:HLA-E Antigens