title: High level of soluble HLA-G in amniotic fluid is correlated with congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii.
abstract: The expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G on cytotrophoblast cells contributes to maternal-fetal tolerance. Soluble forms of HLA-G (sHLA-G) can be detected in amniotic fluid (AF) and a decrease of sHLA-G is known to be correlated to fetal loss. In this work we investigated the role of sHLA-G in the transplacental passage of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, responsible for congenital toxoplasmosis in about 30% of fetuses when primary infection (PI) occurs during pregnancy. We determined the sHLA-G concentration in 61 AF from women with PI and 24 controls. Our results showed higher sHLA-G levels in AF from PI than in controls (p<0.001). Moreover sHLA-G level from congenitally infected fetuses (n=12) was higher than in fetus in whom congenital infection was ruled out (n=49, p<0.05). These data suggest that sHLA-G could participate in immunomodulation necessary to avoid fetal loss due to Toxoplasma infection, but that over-expression could favor congenital transmission.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine et Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France. florence.robert-gangneux@univ-rennes1.fr
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Robert-Gangneux
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gangneux
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaillard
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guiguen
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amiot
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma