title: Human leukocyte antigen-G in the male reproductive system and in seminal plasma.
abstract: One of the non-classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class Ib proteins, HLA-G, is believed to exert important immunoregulatory functions, especially during pregnancy. The presence of HLA protein in paternal seminal fluid has been suggested to have an influence on the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. We have investigated whether HLA-G protein is present in human seminal plasma and in different tissue samples of the male reproductive system. Western blot technique and a soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) assay were used to detect sHLA-G in human seminal plasma samples. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue samples. We detected sHLA-G protein in seminal plasma, and HLA-G expression in normal testis and in epididymal tissue of the male reproductive system but not in the seminal vesicle. Furthermore, the results indicated a weak expression of HLA-G in hyperplastic prostatic tissue. In summary, several of the findings reported in this study suggest an immunoregulatory role of HLA-G in the male reproductive system and in seminal plasma.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Department of Clinical Biochemistry,  Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde) and Roskilde Hospital, 7-13 Køgevej, DK-4000 Roskilde,  Denmark.
authors.forename: Margit Hørup
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bzorek
authors.forename: Malene B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pass
authors.forename: Lise Grupe
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Mette Weidinger
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Signe Goul
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindhard
authors.forename: Thomas Vauvert F
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Hviid
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008867:Microtomy; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D059951:HLA-G Antigens