Catamo Eulalia, Zupin Luisa, Crovella Sergio, Celsi Fulvio, Segat Ludovica
Medical Science Department, University of Trieste, Italy.
Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
Hum Immunol. 2014 Dec;75(12):1225-31. doi: 10.1016/j.humimm.2014.09.019. Epub 2014 Oct 12.
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G is a "nonclassical" major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib gene, located at chromosome 6, in the 6p21.3 region. The HLA-G presents immunomodulatory functions essential in pregnancy for the tolerance of the semi-allogenic fetus, but an abnormal expression of HLA-G has been observed in numerous pathological conditions, such as tumors, autoimmune diseases and viral infections. In recent years, numerous studies have assessed the clinical relevance of HLA-G expression in different types of cancer: in general, a higher HLA-G expression correlates with a lower survival rate or a shorter disease-free survival. Altered expression of HLA-G has been found in both HCV and HBV infection, and some genetic polymorphisms have been associated with altered susceptibility/disease development for these infections, however, whether the biologic role of HLA-G in HCV and HBV infection is beneficial or hazardous, it is not completely clear. In the context of hepatocellular carcinoma, HLA-G has shown a potential diagnostic role, moreover a prognostic value in HCC patients has been also attributed to HLA-G molecules. We revise here the role of HLA-G in hepatotropic HBV/HCV infections and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
人类白细胞抗原（HLA）-G是一种“非经典”的主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）Ib类基因，位于6号染色体的6p21.3区域。HLA-G具有免疫调节功能，对孕期半同种异体胎儿的耐受性至关重要，但在许多病理状况下，如肿瘤、自身免疫性疾病和病毒感染中，均观察到HLA-G的异常表达。近年来，众多研究评估了HLA-G表达在不同类型癌症中的临床相关性：总体而言，较高的HLA-G表达与较低的生存率或较短的无病生存期相关。在丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）和乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染中均发现了HLA-G的表达改变，并且一些基因多态性与这些感染的易感性改变/疾病发展相关，然而，HLA-G在HCV和HBV感染中的生物学作用是有益还是有害，目前尚不完全清楚。在肝细胞癌的背景下，HLA-G已显示出潜在的诊断作用，此外，HLA-G分子在肝癌患者中也具有预后价值。我们在此综述HLA-G在嗜肝性HBV/HCV感染及肝细胞癌（HCC）中的作用。
