Authors: Baricordi, Olavio R.; Stignani, Marina; Melchiorri, Loredana; Rizzo, Roberta

Source: Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy), Volume 7, Number 2, June 2008 , pp. 67-74(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152808785107615

Publication date: 2008-06-01

More about this publication?

• Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets aims to cover all the latest and outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and biochemistry of contemporary molecular targets involved in inflammation and allergy e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of current topics on drug targets involved in inflammation and allergy. As the discovery, identification, characterization and validation of novel human drug targets for anti-inflammation and allergy drug discovery continues to grow, this journal has become essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

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