First-trimester human trophoblast is class II major histocompatibility complex mRNA /antigen-

Abstract

Lack of expression of the polymorphic class I and class II MHC antigens in the cytotrophoblast is one of the major factors determining the privileged immunologic status of the placenta. In this report, we show that first-trimester human placental cytotrophoblast cells display moderate to strong expression of class II MHC (HLA-DRα and -DRβ) and Ii chain transcripts, apparently in absence of detectable class II antigens and Ii chain. In addition, DRα, DRβ, and Ii mRNAs, but not antigens, are consistently upregulated by IFN-γ. Constitutive expression and upregulation of mRNAs are detectable in trophoblast cells kept in short term as well as prolonged (2-3 weeks) culture. These results are remin..