Immuno-tolerogenic functions of HLA-G: Relevance in transplantation and oncology

Over the past few years, the non-classical HLA class I molecule HLA-G has been the center of intense investigations that have led to the description of its particular structural and functional properties. Although located in the HLA class I region of chromosome six, the HLA-G gene may be distinguished from other HLA class I genes by its low polymorphism and alternative splicing that generates seven HLA-G proteins, whose tissue-distlibution is restricted to normal fetal and adult tissues that display a tolerogeneic function towards both innate and acquired immune cells. We review here the functions of HLA-G from an immunological stand point, focusing oil the recent advances in this field and oil their potential impact in human pathologies, such as cancer and organ transplantation. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.