Analysis of HLA-G gene expression in B-lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
The human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) molecule exhibits limited tissue distribution, low polymorphism and alternative splicings that generate seven HLA-G isoforms. HLA-G exerts multiple immunoregulatory functions. Recent studies indicate an ectopic up-regulation in tumor cells that may favor their escape from anti-tumor immune responses. This study it is an effort to clarify the presence of HLA-G in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients.



HLA-G mRNA expression was studied in a pilot study in circulating B-CLL and also healthy controls by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using a set of pan-HLA-G primers.



RT-PCR was performed on B-cells from 74 B-CLL patients and 12 healthy controls. The data showed HLA-G gene expression in 20% of the B-CLL patients. No expression of HLA-G could be detected in the healthy control group.



These data suggest that HLA-G is expressed at the gene level in B cells from B-CLL patients but not in B cells from healthy controls. Further study is required to clarify the role of HLA-G as a regulatory factor that could affect immune response in B-CLL patients.
Dept. of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.|Immune and Gene Therapy Lab., Cancer Center Karolinska (CCK), Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Rezvany
Dept. of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran.
Azam
A
Kazemi
Dept. of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abbas
A
Hajifathali
Dept. of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran.
Saeed
S
Kaviani
Immune and Gene Therapy Lab., Cancer Center Karolinska (CCK), Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Håkan
H
Mellstedt
D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I