HLA-G expression is induced in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell lines by culture conditions.
Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) belongs to the nonclassical HLA class I family of genes presently designated as class Ib genes. It was found to be expressed mainly in placental tissue and in the thymus. Expression of HLA-G is induced by lymphokines such as interleukin-10 and has been associated with the escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance or with inhibition of graft rejection. In this report, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell lines established from peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy volunteers were studied. Our results show that EBV-transformed B-cell lines, but not freshly separated peripheral blood lymphocytes, can be induced to express HLA-G either by subjecting the cultures to nutrient deficiency to hypoxia or to both, however, not all cell lines responded equally to stress conditions. The association of HLA-G with certain cancer transformations may suggest that the resistance to HLA-G expression could be related to susceptibility to the development of malignancy.
Gazit
Ephraim
E
Tissue Typing Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel, and Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. egazit@post.tau.ac.il
Sherf
Maya
M
Balbin
Elkana
E
Muratov
Anna
A
Goldstein
Itamar
I
Loewenthal
Ron
R
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I