Expression of human leukocyte antigen-G in systemic lupus erythematosus

• Published in: Human immunology 2008, Vol.69 (1), p.9-15
• Main Authors: Rosado, Silvia, Perez-Chacon, Gema, Mellor-Pita, Susana, Sanchez-Vegazo, Inmaculada, Bellas-Menendez, Carmen, Citores, Maria Jesus, Losada-Fernandez, Ignacio, Martin-Donaire, Trinidad, Rebolleda, Nerea, Perez-Aciego, Paloma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Allergy and Immunology; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - blood; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - metabolism; HLA Antigens - blood; HLA Antigens - metabolism; HLA-G Antigens; Human leukocyte antigen-G; Humans; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-10 - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnosis; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lymphocytes - immunology; Middle Aged; Skin - immunology; Systemic lupus erythematosus
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2007.11.001

Summary The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relation with interleukin-10 (IL-10) production. The study included 50 female SLE patients and 59 healthy female donors. HLA-G expression in peripheral blood and cutaneous biopsies was determined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) and IL-10 were quantified in serum samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SLE patients presented with serum sHLA-G and IL-10 levels significantly higher than that observed in controls (median [interquartile range (IQR)] = 43.6 U/ml [23.2–150.2] vs 26.84 U/ml [6.0–45.2], p = 0.004; and 1.4 pg/ml [0–2.3] vs 0 pg/ml [0–1.5], p = 0.01, respectively). But no correlation was observed between sHLA-G and both IL-10 levels and the disease activity index for SLE patients. The expression of membrane HLA-G in peripheral lymphocytes from SLE patients was low, but higher than in controls (median [IQR] = 1.5% [0.6–1.8] and 0.3% [0.2–0.8], respectively; p = 0.02). Finally, these findings were in accordance with the weak expression of HLA-G in skin biopsies. Despite the fact that patients present higher levels of HLA-G than healthy controls, which suggests a possible relevance of this molecule in SLE, it seems not to be related to IL-10 production or disease activity.