Regulation of Classical and Nonclassical HLA Class I Genes in Human Trophoblastic Cell Lines

Abstract

Unique expression of HLA class I antigen on human trophoblast might be one of the mechanisms by which the fetus escapes recognition by maternal immune system. The regulation of classical class I, HLA-A, gene and nonclassical class I, HLA-G, gene in cultured trophoblastic cell lines was investigated by nuclear proteins binding to HLA class I regulatory elements using gel mobility shift assay. The results indicated that nuclear protein binding to the class I regulatory element (CRE) was detected in the trophoblastic cell lines expressed classical HLA class I. In the cell lines expressed HLA-G, nuclear protein bound to the 5' upstream region (–190 bp- –120 bp).