Soluble HLA-G changes in maternal blood serum during the progression of labor.

BACKGROUND: The expression of the HLA-G antigen from implantation toward term is crucial for the growth of a semiallogenic fetus as it shields this fetus from the maternal cytotoxic response. Little is known, however, about the potential role of soluble HLA-G isoforms during delivery. The initiation of labor is associated with a complex molecular response leading to a brief activation of the maternal immune system with an accompanying capacity to restrict this activation, and HLA-G seems to be an important factor in enabling the proper immune response at the maternal fetal interface. METHODS: In our study the levels of soluble HLA-G concentration were evaluated in the blood serum samples obtained from 47 pregnant women who either underwent cesarean sections or delivered vaginally. The patients were divided into three subgroups according to the progression of labor at the time of the cesarean or, in cases of vaginal delivery, according to the duration of the pregnancy. RESULTS: We have observed that the progression of labor is associated with a continuous increase in the sHLA-G plasma level. The sHLA-G levels were statistically significantly higher in the blood sera obtained from the women in advanced labor than from the women who were at the beginning of labor. CONCLUSION: The changes in sHLA-G concentration levels observed during the stages of labor may indicate that this isoform participates in maintaining reproductive tract homeostasis.

RCAS1 decidual immunoreactivity and RCAS1 serum level during cesarean section with respect to the progression of labor.

PROBLEM: RCAS1 (a receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells) is a membrane protein present also in a soluble form that seems to be responsible for the suppression of the cytotoxic immune response during gestation. The present study evaluates the decidual immunoreactivity level of RCAS1 and the serum level of RCAS1 with respect to the progression of labor at the time of cesarean section. METHOD OF STUDY: RCAS1 immunoreactivity was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 47 decidual samples, and the RCAS1 serum level was established in 47 blood serum samples derived from patients on whom cesarean sections were performed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the progression of their labor at the time when the cesarean was performed. RESULTS: The highest RCAS1 serum concentration and the highest RCAS1 decidual immunoreactivity were found in patients on whom cesarean sections were performed during advanced labor and were statistically, significantly higher than in cases where cesarean sections were performed without labor or after the spontaneous beginning of labor. CONCLUSION: Alterations in the RCAS1 serum and decidua levels seem to be associated with immune response changes during the progression of labor.