HLA-G polymorphic variation (G*0104N exon 3) confers potential risk for recurrent pregnancy losses

Background and objectives

HLA-G gene harbors certain polymorphic variations that can potentially impact its biological activity, and therefore, may confer a risk for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). This study aimed to analyze whether HLA-G polymorphic variations (G*0103, G*0104, and G0105N) are related to the risk of RPL in women from Kashmir, North India.

Methods

A total of 200 women who suffered ≥2 RPLs and 240 healthy controls were recruited from the same geographical region. Additionally, 100 spouses of RPL affected women and 60 products of conception were evaluated. HLA-G genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Results

The variant genotype 0103:0103 in exon 2 of HLA-G was not detected. The genotype 0104/0105 was detected in 100% of RPL patients, spouses, and controls. Exon 2 and variant genotypes G*0103 in exon 2 and G*0105 in exon 3 of HLA-G were absent in our population and thus did not contribute to the etiopathogenesis of RPL. In contrast, the exon 3 HLA-G variant G*0104N was significantly more frequent in RPL patients and their spouses compared to the control group (p<0.05). The presence of the HLA-G variant genotype G*0104N (exon 3) was detected in 13% of RPL patients and 7% of their male partners, indicating a significantly higher frequency than in controls and suggesting a substantial risk for RPL (p<0.05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, the presence of the HLA-G*0104 allele at a higher frequency in both partners strongly indicates a significant risk for RPL within our population. We further conclude that there is no role for HLA-G *0103 and *0105 in our population.

Full text

https://www.xiahepublishing.com/1555-3884/GE-2023-00144

The study was recently published in the Gene Expression.

Gene Expression (GE) is an open-access journal. It was launched in 1991 by Chicago Medical School Press, and transferred to Cognizant Communication Corporation in 1994. From August 2022, GE is published by Xia & He Publishing Inc.   

GE publishes peer-reviewed and high-quality original articles, reviews, editorials, commentaries, and opinions on its primary research topics including cell biology, molecular biology, genes, and genetics, especially on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of human diseases. 

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