Expression and its clinical significance of HLA-G in HCMV-infected placental villi at early pregnant stage

Abstract

Objective To study the expression and its clinical significance of HLA-G in HCMV intrauterine infected placental villi at early pregnant stage. Methods PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to screen the peripheral blood for HCMV-DNA in 462 women who had willingly undergone induced abortion. Then immunohistochemistry was also used to detect expressions of mouse anti-HCMV early antigen (HCMV-EA) and mouse anti-HLA-G in HCMV-DNA positive cases' placental villi. The difference of HLA-G expressions between the intrauterine infection group (HCMV-EA positives), the intrauterine infection-free group (HCMV-EA negatives) and the normal control group (50 cases of healthy early placental villi) was compared. Results Of the 78 cases, which were detected HCMV-DNA positive, 11 (14.10%) were HCMV-EA positive. Compared with the other two groups, HLA-G expressions in the intrauterine infection group were both obviously decreased (both P<0.001). HLA-G expression positions in all three groups were mainly located in the cytotrophoblast. Conclusion Intrauterine HCMV infection at early pregnant stage is closely related to HLA-G expression at the maternal-fetal interface. The virogenetic products may affect the expression of HLA-G at the maternal-fetal interface and that of its immunological function, thus leading to different clinical outcomes.