Elsevier

Human Immunology

Volume 39, Issue 4, April 1994, Pages 281-289
Human Immunology

First-trimester human trophoblast is class II major histocompatibility complex mRNA+/antigen

https://doi.org/10.1016/0198-8859(94)90271-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Lack of expression of the polymorphic class I and class II MHC antigens in the cytotrophoblast is one of the major factors determining the privileged immunologic status of the placenta. In this report, we show that first-trimester human placental cytotrophoblast cells display moderate to strong expression of class II MHC (HLA-DRα and -DRβ) and Ii chain transcripts, apparently in absence of detectable class II antigens and Ii chain. In addition, DRα, DRβ, and Ii mRNAs, but not antigens, are consistently upregulated by IFN-γ. Constitutive expression and upregulation of mRNAs are detectable in trophoblast cells kept in short term as well as prolonged (2–3 weeks) culture. These results are reminiscent of an analogous mRNA+/antigen dissociation occurring, in the case of class I MHC gene products, in a subpopulation of first-trimester cytotrophoblast cells. Thus, analogous mechanisms prevent the expression of potentially hazardous class I and II allodeterminants at early stages of semiallogeneic pregnancy.

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