title: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G during pregnancy part II: associations between maternal and fetal HLA-G genotypes and soluble HLA-G.
abstract: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is a class Ib molecule with restricted tissue distribution expressed on the extra-villous trophoblast and seems to have immunomodulatory functions during pregnancy. Studies have linked HLA-G polymorphisms to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and recurrent miscarriage. Levels of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) in blood plasma from non-pregnant donors seem to be associated with these polymorphisms. In the current study, we have genotyped 246 mothers and their offspring for HLA-G polymorphisms in the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) and measured sHLA-G in maternal blood plasma samples from gestational week 20 and at term, as well as in fetal umbilical cord blood samples. This is the first large study simultaneously performing HLA-G genotyping of mother and offspring and measuring sHLA-G in both maternal and umbilical cord blood. The results showed that increasing numbers of 14bp ins (rs66554220) alleles in the mother-child genotype combinations were associated with higher maternal sHLA-G levels at term when restricting the analysis to 14bp ins/del heterozygous mothers (p=0.015). Furthermore, increasing numbers of 14InsG haplotypes (14bp ins/del and +3142C/G (rs1063320) polymorphism) in mother-child genotype combinations were associated with higher levels of sHLA-G at term in heterozygous 14DelC/14InsG mothers (p=0.005). In conclusion, the results indicate that there is an association between combined feto-maternal HLA-G genotypes and sHLA-G levels in maternal blood plasma.
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde) and Roskilde Hospital, 7-13 Køgevej, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors: Mette
authors: M
authors: Dahl
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Klitkou
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark; Fertility Clinic 4071, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors: Ole B
authors: OB
authors: Christiansen
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde) and Roskilde Hospital, 7-13 Køgevej, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
authors: Snezana
authors: S
authors: Djurisic
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors: Zofia Maria
authors: ZM
authors: Piosik
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Skovbo
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors: Anna Margrethe
authors: AM
authors: Møller
authors: Department of Clinical Immunology, Aalborg University Hospital, 32 Urbansgade, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark.
authors: Rudi
authors: R
authors: Steffensen
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde) and Roskilde Hospital, 7-13 Køgevej, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: tvh@regionsjaelland.dk.
authors: Thomas Vauvert F
authors: TV
authors: Hviid
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000483:Alleles; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005865:Gestational Age; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006648:Histocompatibility / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D059951:HLA-G Antigens
keywords: HLA-G; MHC; Polymorphism; Pregnancy; sHLA-G