HLA-G alleles and their impacts on placental HSV-1 infection in women from southern Brazil

• Published in: Journal of reproductive immunology Vol. 159; p. 104134
• Main Authors: Tornatore, Michele, Amaral, Suélen Cavalheiro, Alves, Brunna M., de Oliveira, Gisele Rodrigues, Finger-Jardim, Fabiana, Avila, Emiliana Claro, Pivato, Andressa Fernandes, Lobato, Rubens Caurio, Chies, José Artur Bogo, Ellwanger, Joel Henrique, Soares, Esmeralda A., Sánchez-Luquez, Karen, Gonçalves, Carla Vitola, Martínez, Ana Maria Barral de, Soares, Marcelo A., da Hora, Vanusa Pousada
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2023
• Subjects: HCMV; Herpes simplex virus; Human Leukocyte Antigen G; Immunogenetics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy; Human Leukocyte Antigen G; Immunogenetics; HCMV; Herpes simplex virus
• ISSN: 0165-0378; 1872-7603; 1872-7603
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.104134

The Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA-G) is an immunoregulatory molecule with a critical role in pregnancy success. HLA-G alleles are associated with differential susceptibility to multiple conditions, including gestational problems, infectious diseases, and viral persistence. Of note, both herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) can impair HLA-G expression, interfering with HLA-G-associated immunoregulation. On the other hand, the impacts of HLA-G alleles on susceptibility to Herpesviridae infection is a neglected issue. Therefore, this study evaluated HLA-G allele frequencies and their associations with placental Herpesviridae infection in women from southern Brazil. Placenta samples were collected soon after delivery, and detection of viral DNA of HSV-1, HSV-2 and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A fragment of HLA-G (exons 2–4) was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and analyzed to allele determination. One hundred and seventy women had their alleles determined. Overall, 25 HLA-G alleles were found, distributed into 56 different genotypes. The most frequent alleles were G* 01:01:01 and G* 01:01:02, found in 37.9 % and 16.5 % of samples, respectively. Among the 170 women, 89 (52.4 %) tested positive for Herpesviridae DNA in the placenta, 55 (32.3 %) tested negative, 3 (1.8 %) were negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2 (with absent HCMV data), and 23 (13.5 %) were undetermined. The G* 01:01:01 allele was significantly associated with an increased risk of placental HSV-1 infection (p = 0.0151; OR=1.837; IC=1.108–3.045). This study describes new information concerning placental HLA-G alleles in women from southern Brazil and helps explain how genetic background can modify susceptibility to placental infections. •Placental HSV-1, HSV-2, and HCMV infections were investigated in Brazilian women.•Herpesviridae infection was observed in 52.4 % of the studied women.•The most frequent alleles were G* 01:01:01 and G* 01:01:02.•The G* 01:01:01 allele is a risk factor for placental HSV-1 infection.