Expression and differential regulation of HLA-G isoforms in the retinal pigment epithelial cell line, ARPE-19

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The purpose of this study was to examine if HLA-G is expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells of the eye. The RPE comprises the outer most layer of the retina and as such defines the interface to the blood and contributes to the immune privilege in the posterior part of the eye. One way the RPE might be regulating the immune system could be by expressing the non-classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecule, HLA-G. We therefore sought to define if the RPE cell line, ARPE-19, expressed HLA-G and analyse the regulation as a response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. This was done by digital droplet PCR, measuring the gene expression of HLA-G in total RNA. The protein expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry and by immunofluorescence followed by confocal microscopy and the expression of the HLA-G isoforms was explored by fragment analysis. In the current study, we show that HLA-G is expressed by ARPE-19 cells and is upregulated as a response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, we are the first to describe a differential regulation of the HLA-G isoforms as a direct response to stimulation. These results might indicate that HLA-G can be part of the immune privilege of the posterior part of the eye, but further experiments on primary RPE cells are needed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalHuman Immunology
Volume78
Issue number5-6
Pages (from-to)414-420
Number of pages7
ISSN0198-8859
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2017

    Research areas

  • ARPE-19, HLA-G, Isoforms, Retinal pigment epithelium, sHLA-G

ID: 179087669