Abstract
PROBLEM: We have previously shown that human seminal plasma contains immunomodulatory soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G). We investigated whether sHLA-G levels in seminal plasma are associated with a specific 14 base pair (bp) insertion/deletion (ins/del) polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of the HLA-G gene and/or with the outcome of assisted reproduction treatments (ART) in couples attending a fertility clinic.
METHOD OF STUDY: In a total of 54 unselected couples, sHLA-G levels were measured in seminal plasma samples and blood samples, HLA-G genotyping was performed, and clinical data were collected.
RESULTS: The concentration of sHLA-G in seminal plasma samples was significantly associated with the HLA-G 14 bp ins/del genotype of the men; the del14 bp/del14 bp genotype showed the highest level of sHLA-G, and the ins14 bp/ins14 bp genotype showed the lowest level (P = 0.003). We observed a trend for higher seminal plasma levels of sHLA-G/total protein and total sHLA-G in cases with reduced semen quality, where the female partner became pregnant after ART, compared with those couples in which no pregnancy was achieved.
CONCLUSION: These first results are in accordance with a possible role of seminal sHLA-G as an immunomodulatory factor in the female reproductive tract before and at the time of conception.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (Print) |
| Volume | 72 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 89-105 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| ISSN | 1046-7408 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2014 |
Keywords
- Blotting, Western
- Female
- Fertility
- Genotype
- HLA-G Antigens
- Humans
- Male
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Pregnancy
- Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
- Semen