Analysis of HLA-G expression in breast cancer tissues

Hum Immunol. 2002 Nov;63(11):969-76. doi: 10.1016/s0198-8859(02)00642-0.

Abstract

Among the different mechanisms by which cancer can elude the immune system, alterations in the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on tumor cells may play a crucial role by impairing the HLA molecules interaction with T and natural killer (NK) cells specific receptors. More recently, aberrant expression of HLA-G has been described in different tumor tissues in addition to HLA class I downregulation. The HLA-G molecule is a nonclassical HLA class I antigen selectively expressed by trophoblast and thymic epithelial cells. Several studies reported that the HLA-G function might represent an additional mechanism of tumor immune escape, mainly inhibiting NK and cytotoxic T-cell activity. Here we report the analysis of HLA-G expression both at RNA level by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and at protein level by Western blot and immunohistochemistry in 25 breast cancer patient tissues. The aim of this study was to elucidate the HLA-G gene expression pattern in breast tumor tissues and correlate it with HLA class I alterations. Our results demonstrated that HLA-G molecules expression was never found even in a group of patients revealing HLA class I total loss, and that HLA-G is not expressed in breast cancer tissue with a low-tumor grade (G1-G2) and minimal stromal contamination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Female
  • Genes, MHC Class I
  • HLA Antigens / analysis*
  • HLA Antigens / genetics
  • HLA Antigens / physiology
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / analysis*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / physiology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • K562 Cells
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I