Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol 4, 817-825, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
JS Hunt, S Banerjee and JL Pace
Unlike other somatic cells, human placental trophoblast cells do not
express the highly polymorphic HLA-A and HLA-B human leukocyte major
histocompatibility antigens that would stimulate maternal immunological
rejection of the fetus. To investigate mechanisms underlying cell
lineage-specific expression, cell lines were generated from homozygous
matings of HLA-B27 transgenic mice. Trophoblast cell lines were generated
from gestation day 10 placentas and fibroblasts were cultured from
gestation day 13/14 embryos. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) readily
identified HLA-B DNA in transgenic trophoblastic cells but specific mRNA
was of low abundance, being detectable by reverse transcriptase PCR but not
by Northern blot hybridization. HLA-B- specific protein in/on the
trophoblast cells was undetectable by cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay and the protein was not induced by exposing the trophoblastic cells
to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Restricted expression was specific for the
HLA-B transgene and its antigen; IFN-gamma-inducible endogenous H-2Db class
I antigens were detectable on the trophoblast cells. In contrast to the
trophoblastic cells, HLA-B27 transgenic fibroblasts expressed
IFN-gamma-inducible HLA class I antigens as well as H-2Db antigens. Thus,
the mechanism(s) regulating expression of the polymorphic HLA-B antigen in
trophoblastic cells is gene-specific, IFN-gamma-resistant and operative at
the level of transcription or immediate post-transcription.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Differential expression and regulation of a human transgene, HLA-B27, in mouse placental and embryonic cell lines
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7400, USA.
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