High level of soluble HLA-G in amniotic fluid is correlated with congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii

Clin Immunol. 2010 Dec 23. [Epub ahead of print]

High level of soluble HLA-G in amniotic fluid is correlated with congenital transmission of Toxoplasma gondii

Robert-Gangneux F, Gangneux JP, Vu N, Jaillard S, Guiguen C, Amiot L.

Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine et Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France; Unité EA4427-SERAIC (Signalisation et réponse aux agents infectieux et chimiques), IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé Environnement Travail), Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France.

Abstract
The expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G on cytotrophoblast cells contributes to maternal-fetal tolerance. Soluble forms of HLA-G (sHLA-G) can be detected in amniotic fluid (AF) and a decrease of sHLA-G is known to be correlated to fetal loss. In this work we investigated the role of sHLA-G in the transplacental passage of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, responsible for congenital toxoplasmosis in about 30% of fetuses when primary infection (PI) occurs during pregnancy. We determined the sHLA-G concentration in 61 AF from women with PI and 24 controls. Our results showed higher sHLA-G levels in AF from PI than in controls (p<0.001). Moreover sHLA-G level from congenitally infected fetuses (n=12) was higher than in fetus in whom congenital infection was ruled out (n=49, p<0.05). These data suggest that sHLA-G could participate in immunomodulation necessary to avoid fetal loss due to Toxoplasma infection, but that over-expression could favor congenital transmission.

Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.
PMID: 21185786