Impact of HLA-G analysis in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pathological conditions

Abstract

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a non-classical HLA class I molecule that differs from classical HLA class I molecules by low polymorphism and tissue distribution. HLA-G is a tolerogenic molecule with an immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory function on both innate and adaptative immunity. This peculiar characteristic of HLA-G has led to investigations of its role in pathological conditions in order to define possible uses in diagnosis, prevention and treatment. In recent years, HLA-G has been shown to have an important implication in different inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, pregnancy complications, tumor development and aggressiveness, and susceptibility to viral infections. In fact, HLA-G molecules have been reported to alternate at both genetic and protein level in different disease situations, supporting its crucial role in pathological conditions. Specific pathologies show altered levels of soluble (s)HLA-G and different HLA-G gene polymorphisms seem to correlate with disease. This review aims to update scientific knowledge on the contribution of HLA-G in managing pathological conditions.

Keywords: Human leukocyte antigen-G, Pathology, Prognosis, Diagnosis, Treatment, Marker

Core tip: Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a tolerogenic molecule. HLA-G has been shown to have important implications in different pathological conditions where it is reported to alternate at both protein and genetic level. The peculiar immunoregulatory function of HLA-G and its dysregulation in different diseases have led to investigation of its role in pathological conditions in order to define possible uses in diagnosis, prevention and treatment. This review aims to update scientific knowledge on the contribution of HLA-G in managing pathological conditions.