A role for both HLA-F and HLA-G in reproduction and during pregnancy?

• Published in: Human immunology 2020-04, Vol.81 (4), p.127-133
• Main Authors: Persson, Gry, Jørgensen, Nanna, Nilsson, Line Lynge, Andersen, Lærke Heidam J., Hviid, Thomas Vauvert F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - genetics; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - physiology; HLA class Ib; HLA-F; HLA-G; HLA-G Antigens - physiology; Humans; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Maternal-Fetal Exchange - immunology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - immunology; Pregnancy success; Reproduction; Reproduction - immunology
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2019.09.006

The human major histocompatibility complex includes a group of non-classical HLA class I genes, HLA-E, -F and -G. While nearly all focus since the discovery of these class Ib molecules have been on basic biochemistry and molecular biology of HLA-G and HLA-E, as well as their expression patterns, functions in immune modulation and during pregnancy, and also possible implications in a range of diseases, in infertility and pregnancy complications, HLA-F has nearly been ignored. However, recent discoveries show that HLA-F can be expressed as both open conformers binding to a number of KIRs on primarily NK cells, as well as peptide-bound HLA-F binding to ILT2 and ILT4. Furthermore, a number of reports indicate a possible involvement of HLA-F in viral infections, in cancer immunology, and in fertility and reproduction, which may initiate more interest in this rather unknown HLA class I molecule. In this short review, we focus on recent discoveries that indicate a functional role for HLA-F in reproduction and during pregnancy, and the role of HLA-F in relation to HLA-G.