Tolerogenic function of dimeric forms of HLA-G recombinant proteins: a comparative study in vivo

PLoS One. 2011;6(7):e21011. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021011. Epub 2011 Jul 14.

Abstract

HLA-G is a natural tolerogenic molecule involved in the best example of tolerance to foreign tissues there is: the maternal-fetal tolerance. The further involvement of HLA-G in the tolerance of allogeneic transplants has also been demonstrated and some of its mechanisms of action have been elucidated. For these reasons, therapeutic HLA-G molecules for tolerance induction in transplantation are actively investigated. In the present study, we studied the tolerogenic functions of three different HLA-G recombinant proteins: HLA-G heavy chain fused to β2-microglobulin (B2M), HLA-G heavy chain fused to B2M and to the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin, and HLA-G alpha-1 domain either fused to the Fc part of an immunoglobulin or as a synthetic peptide. Our results demonstrate the tolerogenic function of B2M-HLA-G fusion proteins, and especially of B2M-HLA-G5, which were capable of significantly delaying allogeneic skin graft rejection in a murine in vivo transplantation model. The results from our studies suggest that HLA-G recombinant proteins are relevant candidates for tolerance induction in human transplantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • HLA Antigens / genetics
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism*
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • HeLa Cells
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Skin Transplantation / immunology

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Peptides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins