title: Up-regulation of HLA-G expression in cervical premalignant and malignant lesions.
abstract: The human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) molecule, a non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I antigen, exhibits highly limited tissue distribution and gene variation. Recent studies indicate strong immunoinhibitory properties in tumor cells that may favor their escape from anti-tumor immune responses. However, the role of HLA-G in cervical premalignant and malignant lesions has not been defined clearly. In our study, HLA-G expression was studied in cervical tissue from 119 patients with lesions and 22 normal cervical tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry. HLA-G was expressed in 45% (54/119) of cervical lesion-containing tissues while it was rarely detectable (0/22) in the control specimens (P = 0.000). ROC curve analysis showed that HLA-G has an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.694. Furthermore, we investigated soluble HLA-G expression in the plasma of 172 patients with cervical lesions and 20 healthy controls. Significant increases were also observed in soluble HLA-G levels (median, 191.4 vs 45.18 U/ml, P < 0.001). The relative operating characteristic (ROC) curves for soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) show an AUC of 0.710, 0.634, and 0.588, respectively. At the cut-off values of 108.20 U/ml for sHLA-G, 1.5 ng/ml for SCC, and 35 U/ml for CA125, the sensitivity was 73.30%, 47.83%, and 44.83%, respectively. The detection of soluble HLA-G in plasma may have significance in the early detection of cervical malignant lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P R China.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: C-X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: L-T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: S-F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: C-B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Z-G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: L-L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015854:Up-Regulation; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I