title: The importance of HLA-G expression in embryos, trophoblast cells, and embryonic stem cells.
abstract: The nonclassical HLA-G molecule is a trophoblast-specific molecule present in almost every pregnancy. It differs from classical HLA class I molecules by the low degree of allelic variants and the high diversity of protein structures. HLA-G is reported to be a tolerogenic molecule that acts on cells of both innate and adaptive immunity. At the maternal-fetal interface HLA-G seems to be responsible largely for the reprogramming of local maternal immune response. This review will focus on the HLA-G gene expression profile in pregnancy, in preimplantation embryos, and in human embryonic stem cells with emphasis on the structural diversity of the HLA-G protein and its potential functional and diagnostic implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vercammen
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van de Velde
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rebmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D020033:Protein Isoforms