Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Down-regulation of HLA-G Attenuates Cleavage Rate in Human Triploid Embryos

Authors
Li Li Sun 1
Ai Ming Wang 1
Christopher J Haines 2
Yibing Han 3
Yuan Qing Yao 4
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China
2 Shanghai First Maternity and Infants Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
3 Shanghai First Maternity and Infants Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
Abstract
Background: HLA-G is a major histocompatibility complex (MHC), class Ib molecule that is selectively expressed at the fetal–maternal interface. It is thought to play a role in protecting the fetus from the maternal immune response. Interestingly, the preimplantation embryo development (Ped) gene product Qa-2 is also a mouse MHC class Ib protein that affects cleavage and division of preimplantation mouse embryos and subsequent embryonic survival. Data from many human in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics suggest that the mouse Ped phenomenon also exists in human because embryos fertilized at the same time have different cleavage rates and consequently different IVF outcomes. As HLA-G is expressed in human early embryos, it is highly regarded as the functional homologue of Qa-2. Whether HLA-G expression is correlated with the cleavage rate of human embryos has great potential clinical value. Methods: In this study, 45 human early abnormal fertilized embryos (3 PN) from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization were used to test the effects of HLA-G knock-down via infection with adenovirus carrying its specific siRNA on the cleavage rate in a 2-day culture period. One- way ANOVA, Post hoc and Chi-square were used to compare groups. A p-value smaller than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Knocking-down HLA-G in human preimplantation stage embryos resulted in a higher cell arrest rate and a slower cleavage rate. Conclusion: The results from the present study suggested that HLA-G might play an important role in early human embryo development.
Keywords
In vitro fertilization
Adenovirus
Adenovirus vector
Cleavage
HLA
G
Mouse Qa
2 antigen
Preimplantation embryo
RNAi
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Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 12, Issue 3
Summer 2011
Pages 215-221