A review on the role of HLA-G in fetal-maternal immuno-tolerance

Abstract EN

Immunological interactions that involve Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) antigens at the fetal-maternal interface are associated with reproductive success.

MHC Class Ib antigens present on the trophoblast cell-surface structurally resemble HLA-G suggesting that Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA-G) might be working in association with other MHC Class I partners to promote the inhibition of the cytotoxicity of Natural Killer (NK) cells at the fetal-maternal interface.

As per the laws of Immunology, the developing fetus should be rejected rather than protected.

The development of the fetus in the uterine environment is a classic example of a semi-allogenic graft.

However, the complex immunological mechanisms that involve the acceptance of the fetus and the placenta that are actually semi-allogenic to the mother- are not completely understood.

In this study, the graft is assumed to be granted with immune privilege by the controlled trophoblast MHC expression in the fetal-maternal interface.

The study also reviews the importance of HLA-G production at the fetal-maternal interface and discuss its relevance to human embryonic development.