Premium
HLA‐G Expression by Tumors
Author(s) -
DAVIES B.,
HIBY S.,
GARDNER L.,
LOKE Y.W.,
KING A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.8755-8920.2001.450207.x
Subject(s) - immunosurveillance , cytolysis , hla g , biology , human leukocyte antigen , flow cytometry , major histocompatibility complex , antigen , trophoblast , cell culture , cancer research , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , placenta , tumor cells , cytotoxicity , in vitro , genetics , fetus , pregnancy
PROBLEM: It has been proposed that the expression of the non‐classical MHC class I antigen, HLA‐G, by trophoblast is one mechanism by which the placenta evades attack by maternal uterine NK cells. A similar mechanism is thought to be operative in the escape from immunosurveillance by tumor cells. However, data on the expression of HLA‐G by tumor cells are highly conflicting.
METHOD OF STUDY: In the present study, we have examined tissue sections from a wide variety of tumors by immunohistology and also several cell lines by flow cytometry and RT‐PCR. Whilst very faint bands were detected in three cell lines (hepG2, Mead, CaSki) by RT‐PCR, no tumors or cell lines were observed to express HLA‐G protein. Furthermore, we found that tumor deposits are not usually infiltrated by NK cells.
CONCLUSION: Our observations, therefore, do not support the proposal that tumor cells express HLA‐G in order to evade host NK cell cytolysis.