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Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued)

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5281
ISSN (Online): 2212-4055

HLA-G and Inflammatory Diseases

Author(s): Olavio R. Baricordi, Marina Stignani, Loredana Melchiorri and Roberta Rizzo

Volume 7, Issue 2, 2008

Page: [67 - 74] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/187152808785107615

Price: $65

Abstract

HLA-G antigens are non classical HLA-class I molecules characterized by a low allelic polymorphism, a limited tissue distribution and the presence of membrane bound and soluble isoforms. The HLA-G antigens were firstly detected in cytotrophoblast cells at the feto-maternal interface where they maintain a tolerogenic status between the mother and the semiallogenic fetus. Recently a variable expression of HLA-G molecules has been documented in several autoimmune diseases, viral infections, cancer diseases and transplantation. Overall the presence of HLA-G molecules in both membranes bound and soluble isoforms was associated with tolerogenic functions against innate and adaptative cellular responses. HLA-G antigens are able to affect the cytotoxicity of natural killer and CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T lymphocyte functions and dendritic cell maturation. In addition to the allelic polymorphism the HLA-G gene shows a deletion/insertion polymorphism of a 14 base pairs sequence (14bp) in the exon 8 at the 3 untranslated region. Several reports have associated the presence of the 14bp insertion allele (+14bp) to an unstable mRNA and a lower sHLA-G protein production, suggesting a different ability to counteract inflammation between genotypes. We reviewed the literature on the expression of HLA-G antigens in autoimmune and allergic diseases and the possible functional role of these molecules in counteracting inflammation.

Keywords: HLA-G, inflammation, autoimmunity, immune response, genetic polymorphism


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