Review
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World J Methodol. Mar 26, 2014; 4(1): 11-25
Published online Mar 26, 2014. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v4.i1.11
Impact of HLA-G analysis in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pathological conditions
Daria Bortolotti, Valentina Gentili, Antonella Rotola, Enzo Cassai, Roberta Rizzo, Dario Di Luca
Daria Bortolotti, Valentina Gentili, Antonella Rotola, Enzo Cassai, Roberta Rizzo, Dario Di Luca, Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Author contributions: Bortolotti D, Rizzo R and Di Luca D contributed to writing the review; Gentili V and Rotola A contributed to revising the bibliography; Cassai E contributed to revising the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Roberta Rizzo, PhD, Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Microbiology and Medical Genetics, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari, 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy. rbr@unife.it
Telephone: +39-532-455382 Fax: +39-532-974470
Received: November 2, 2013
Revised: January 2, 2014
Accepted: January 15, 2014
Published online: March 26, 2014
Processing time: 118 Days and 13.2 Hours
Abstract

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a non-classical HLA class I molecule that differs from classical HLA class I molecules by low polymorphism and tissue distribution. HLA-G is a tolerogenic molecule with an immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory function on both innate and adaptative immunity. This peculiar characteristic of HLA-G has led to investigations of its role in pathological conditions in order to define possible uses in diagnosis, prevention and treatment. In recent years, HLA-G has been shown to have an important implication in different inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, pregnancy complications, tumor development and aggressiveness, and susceptibility to viral infections. In fact, HLA-G molecules have been reported to alternate at both genetic and protein level in different disease situations, supporting its crucial role in pathological conditions. Specific pathologies show altered levels of soluble (s)HLA-G and different HLA-G gene polymorphisms seem to correlate with disease. This review aims to update scientific knowledge on the contribution of HLA-G in managing pathological conditions.

Keywords: Human leukocyte antigen-G; Pathology; Prognosis; Diagnosis; Treatment; Marker

Core tip: Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is a tolerogenic molecule. HLA-G has been shown to have important implications in different pathological conditions where it is reported to alternate at both protein and genetic level. The peculiar immunoregulatory function of HLA-G and its dysregulation in different diseases have led to investigation of its role in pathological conditions in order to define possible uses in diagnosis, prevention and treatment. This review aims to update scientific knowledge on the contribution of HLA-G in managing pathological conditions.