• PMID: 24735563
• Gene Name: HLA-G
• Condition: Reduced sperm quality
• Association: The concentration of sHLA-G in seminal plasma samples was significantly associated with the HLA-G 14 bp ins/del genotype of the men; the del14 bp/del14 bp genotype showed the highest level of sHLA-G, and the ins14 bp/ins14 bp genotype showed the lowest le
• Mutation: HLA-G 14 bp ins/del genotype
• Population size: 54
• Population details: 54 couples
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Reduced sperm quality

Soluble human leukocyte antigen-G in seminal plasma is associated with HLA-G genotype: possible implications for fertility success

Dahl M, Perin TL, Djurisic S, Rasmussen M, Ohlsson J, Buus S, Lindhard A, Hviid TV.

PROBLEM: We have previously shown that human seminal plasma contains immunomodulatory soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G). We investigated whether sHLA-G levels in seminal plasma are associated with a specific 14 base pair (bp) insertion/deletion (ins/del) polymorphism in the 3'-untranslated region of the HLA-G gene and/or with the outcome of assisted reproduction treatments (ART) in couples attending a fertility clinic. METHOD OF STUDY: In a total of 54 unselected couples, sHLA-G levels were measured in seminal plasma samples and blood samples, HLA-G genotyping was performed, and clinical data were collected. RESULTS: The concentration of sHLA-G in seminal plasma samples was significantly associated with the HLA-G 14 bp ins/del genotype of the men; the del14 bp/del14 bp genotype showed the highest level of sHLA-G, and the ins14 bp/ins14 bp genotype showed the lowest level (P = 0.003). We observed a trend for higher seminal plasma levels of sHLA-G/total protein and total sHLA-G in cases with reduced semen quality, where the female partner became pregnant after ART, compared with those couples in which no pregnancy was achieved. CONCLUSION: These first results are in accordance with a possible role of seminal sHLA-G as an immunomodulatory factor in the female reproductive tract before and at the time of conception. CI - © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. FAU - Dahl, Mette AU - Dahl M AD - Centre for Immune Regulation and Reproductive Immunology (CIRRI), Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital (Roskilde) and Roskilde Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark. FAU - Perin, Trine L AU - Perin TL FAU - Djurisic, Snezana AU - Djurisic S FAU - Rasmussen, Merete AU - Rasmussen M FAU - Ohlsson, Janni AU - Ohlsson J FAU - Buus, Søren AU - Buus S FAU - Lindhard, Anette AU - Lindhard A