Major Histocompatibility Antigens in Reproduction

Hunt, Joan S.

doi:10.3109/9780203219034-36

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…One circumstance of immune privilege in human pregnancy is clear; the embryo/fetus survives as a consequence of cooperative interactions between the fetus and the mother [reviewed by Hunt et al (5, 6) and Hunt (7)].…”

Section: Mothers and Their Embryos/fetuses Cooperate To Develop Uteromentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These mechanisms are both diverse and overlapping. As with other aspects of immunity, the most sophisticated mechanisms are found in humans, although those in primates are often very close, and many parallels can be found between pregnancy in humans and in rodents [reviewed by Hunt et al and Hunt (5, 6, 7)].…”

Section: Multiple Tolerogenic Systems Protect Human Pregnancymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The expressed class I genes include class Ia ( HLA‐A, HLA‐B , and HLA ‐ C ) and class Ib ( HLA‐E , HLA‐F , and HLA‐G ). For a discussion of the different features of class Ia and class Ib genes and their antigens, see recent reviews (5–7). Of particular importance to the condition of semiallogeneic pregnancy, the former are highly polymorphic, with many alleles, and the latter have few variants.…”

Section: The Hla Genes and Their Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stranger in a strange land

Hunt

2006

Immunological Reviews

162

134

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Mammalian mothers and their embryos/fetuses are almost invariably genetically different, which raises the question of how the mother's immune system is diverted so as to permit cohabitation with the 'foreign' body. Several decades of research have shown that multiple cooperative systems sanction uteroplacental immune privilege. These systems include production of several varieties of soluble immunosuppressive molecules in the uterus and the placenta and strict regulation of the molecules expressed on or by placental trophoblast cells. Trophoblast, a unique lineage without counterpart in adult tissues, is in direct contact with maternal blood and tissue. The major graft rejection-promoting molecules, human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), are tightly regulated in these cells, with none of HLA-A, HLA-B, or HLA class II antigens expressed. The HLA class Ib antigens, HLA-E, HLA-F, and HLA-G, are detectable on some subpopulations. Our studies have focused on the expression, regulation, and functions of the soluble isoforms of HLA-G, which circulate in maternal blood and are present at high levels in the pregnant uterus. These isoforms are derived from the single HLA-G gene by alternative splicing and are now known to have immunosuppressive properties. Ours and other studies indicate that soluble HLA-G proteins may comprise a unique tolerogenic system for establishing local immune privilege during pregnancy.

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Section: Mothers and Their Embryos/fetuses Cooperate To Develop Uteromentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Multiple Tolerogenic Systems Protect Human Pregnancymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Hla Genes and Their Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stranger in a strange land

Hunt

2006

Immunological Reviews

162

134

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“…HLA-F mRNA and protein have been detected mainly in cells of the B-cell lineage, such as peripheral blood B cells and B-cell lines, and in tissues containing B cells, especially the adult tonsil and fetal liver [14]. HLA-G has generated considerable interest because of its unique properties, which include limited polymorphism, generation of alternatively spliced transcripts, restricted tissue distribution, and a truncated cytoplasmic domain in the glycoprotein [4][5][6]. This gene and its protein products are the subject of the current review.…”

Section: Class Ib Gene Expression In Humansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A few tissues express low levels of class Ia genes, whereas some, including the syncytiotrophoblast and villous cytotrophoblast, do not express the class Ia genes, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A and HLA-B [2]. Class Ib genes have a more limited tissue distribution and unknown functions [3][4][5][6][7]. Recently, considerable attention has been focused on the class Ib genes because of their potential role in modulating immune functions in pregnancy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Nonhuman Primates Comprise Appropriate Experimental Models for Studying the Function of Human Leukocyte Antigen-G?1

Langat

Hunt

2002

Biology of Reproduction

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The expression and function of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ia genes, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, and -C, is well-established; they are expressed in most nucleated cells and present endogenous peptides to CD8+ T cells. However, MHC class Ib genes are poorly characterized and have unknown functions. In humans, the best-characterized class Ib gene is HLA-G. This gene has a restricted tissue expression of the mRNA and a unique pattern of protein expression; it is expressed mainly in the extravillous cytotrophoblast cells in the placenta. The function of HLA-G is not clear, but its presence at the maternal-fetal interface suggests a role in protection of the semiallogeneic fetus. Whereas functional studies using in vitro models and transgenic mice provide useful insights regarding the potential function of this molecule, in vivo studies cannot be performed in humans. Nonhuman primates that are closely related to humans phylogenetically contain homologues of HLA-G. The MHC-G loci in nonhuman primates appear to have diverged from the human HLA-G. However, in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and olive baboon (Papio anubis), a novel class Ia-related locus has been described. This gene encodes glycoproteins with characteristics that resemble those of HLA-G, including restricted tissue distribution, alternative splicing of mRNA, truncated cytoplasmic domain, and limited polymorphism. Thus, this molecule may be the functional homologue of HLA-G, and these two species may comprise appropriate models for elucidating the function of HLA-G.

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