title: Soluble human leukocyte antigen-G in seminal plasma is associated with HLA-G genotype: possible implications for fertility success.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously shown that human seminal plasma contains immunomodulatory soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G). We investigated whether sHLA-G levels in seminal plasma are associated with a specific 14 base pair (bp) insertion/deletion (ins/del) polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of the HLA-G gene and/or with the outcome of assisted reproduction treatments (ART) in couples attending a fertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a total of 54 unselected couples, sHLA-G levels were measured in seminal plasma samples and blood samples, HLA-G genotyping was performed, and clinical data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentration of sHLA-G in seminal plasma samples was significantly associated with the HLA-G 14 bp ins/del genotype of the men; the del14 bp/del14 bp genotype showed the highest level of sHLA-G, and the ins14 bp/ins14 bp genotype showed the lowest level (P = 0.003). We observed a trend for higher seminal plasma levels of sHLA-G/total protein and total sHLA-G in cases with reduced semen quality, where the female partner became pregnant after ART, compared with those couples in which no pregnancy was achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These first results are in accordance with a possible role of seminal sHLA-G as an immunomodulatory factor in the female reproductive tract before and at the time of conception.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde) and Roskilde Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: Trine L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Perin
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Djurisic
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Janni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohlsson
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buus
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; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005838:Genotype; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011247:Pregnancy; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D059951:HLA-G Antigens
keywords: Fertility; HLA-G; MHC; genotype; semen