Submitted March 2, 2008
Returned for revision March 28, 2008
Accepted May 8, 2008
Pregnancy
HLA-G Gene Polymorphism in Human Placentas: Possible Association of G*0106 Allele with Preeclampsia and Miscarriage
Philippe Moreau *,
Licinio Contu ,
Francesco Alba ,
Sara Lai ,
Renata Simoes ,
Sandro Orrù ,
Carlo Carcassi ,
Michel Roger ,
Michèle Rabreau ,
and
Edgardo D. Carosella
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: philippe.moreau{at}cea.fr.
Abstract
Definite causes for several pregnancy pathologies remain unknown. However, in the light of different recent studies, it is notable that diminished or aberrant HLA-G expression may be associated with certain complication of pregnancy, and may be further link to HLA-G polymorphism. We analysed DNA from 60 normal placentas (controls), 140 placentas from miscarriage, 36 pre-eclamptic placentas, 76 placentas from fetal hypotrophy and 34 placentas with hypoxia, for variations in coding regions (allelic groups G*0101 to G*0107), and the 14 bp deletion/insertion into the 3'UT region. No statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of allelic group between pathological placentas and controls with the exception of G*0106 allele frequency in pre-eclampsia compared with control placentas (21.2 % and 6.6 % respectively). A greater frequency of this allele also was observed in two subgroups of miscarriage and hypoxia pathologies than in the controls. In addition, the presence of the 14 bp sequence was prominent in pre-eclampsia compared with control (60.8 % versus 35 %) and homozygotes with deletion were not detected in the pathology. The results suggest that G*0106 allele which is coupled with the presence of 14 bp contribute and/or is a relevant marker in some specific pregnancy complications, especially pre-eclampsia.
Key words:
Immunology •
Pregnancy •
Placenta •
HLA-G •
Polymorphism
