Béatrice Riteau

HLA-G2, -G3, and -G4 Isoforms Expressed as Nonmature Cell Surface Glycoproteins Inhibit NK and Antigen-Specific CTL Cytolysis

HLA-G is a nonclassical MHC class I molecule that plays a major role in maternal-fetal tolerance. Four membrane-bound (HLA-G1 to -G4) and two soluble (HLA-G5, and -G6) proteins are generated by alternative splicing. Only HLA-G1 has been extensively studied in terms of both expression and function. We provide evidence here that HLA-G2, -G3, and -G4 truncated isoforms reach the cell surface of transfected cells, as endoglycosidase H-sensitive glycoproteins, after a 2-h chase period. Moreover, cytotoxicity experiments show that these transfected cells are protected from the lytic activity of both innate (NK cells) and acquired (CTL) effectors. These findings highlight the immunomodulatory role that HLA-G2, -G3, and -G4 proteins will assume during physiologic or pathologic processes in which HLA-G1 expression is altered.

HLA-G inhibits the allogeneic proliferative response.

HLA-G is a non-classical MHC class I molecule expressed at the feto/maternal interface where it plays a role in materno-fetal tolerance by inhibiting NK cells. Expression of killing inhibitory receptors capable of interacting with HLA-G on T lymphocytes led us to hypothesize that HLA-G molecules could also modulate T cell responses, analyzed here in the context of the allogeneic proliferative response. Using LCL-HLA-G transfectants as stimulators of T cells present among peripheral mononuclear cells and K562-HLA-G1 transfectants as inhibitors in a classical mixed lymphocyte reaction, we showed that HLA-G is able to inhibit T cell allo-proliferation. These findings provide new insight into the role of HLA-G in preventing allograft rejection.

MICA triggering signal for NK cell tumor lysis is counteracted by HLA‐G1‐mediated inhibitory signal

MICA, a highly glycosylated membrane‐anchored cell–surface MHC Class I‐related chain, has recently been reported to activate NK cell cytolytic responses in epithelial tumors. Tumor cells may escape from NK lysis by counteracting NK cytotoxicity activating signals with inhibitory ones. Among the molecules that mediate an NK inhibitory signal, HLA‐G1, a non‐classical MHC Class I antigen, is of particular interest. HLA‐G1 is ectopically expressed in various tumors, including melanoma and constitutes the major NK inhibitory ligand in the M8 melanoma cell line when coexpressed with HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C and ‐E molecules. We have evaluated the balance between 2 powerful signals that affect NK cell tumor lysis, one inhibitory and the other one activating, respectively HLA‐G1 and MICA. For this purpose, we transfected the M8 melanoma cell line, which spontaneously expresses MICA, with HLA‐G1 cDNA, using it as a target for the NKL effector. We carried out cytotoxicity assays, using antibodies that disrupt interactions between the MICA and HLA‐G1 ligands and their respective NK effector counterparts, the NKG2D activating and ILT2 inhibitory receptors. Results showed that 1) MICA expressed in the M8 melanoma cell line triggered NK cell tumor lysis and 2) HLA‐G1 coexpression mediated the inhibition of NK cytotoxicity by mitigating the MICA activating signal. HLA‐G1 expression in a tumor cell line in which MICA is switched on would therefore appear to be a powerful way to turn off NK cells, supporting the emerging idea that the balance between positive and negative NK cytolysis signals critically influences tumor progression.

Role of HLA-G versus HLA-E on NK function: HLA-G is able to inhibit NK cytolysis by itself☆

Recent studies have shown that endogenous HLA-E molecules are stabilized on the cell surface upon the expression of HLA-G which contains within its leader sequence, a nonapeptide capable of binding with the HLA-E/beta2m complex. Since HLA-E was found to be the major ligand for the CD94/NKG2A inhibitory receptor, we determined the role of HLA-G versus HLA-E on NK lysis inhibition. We showed that K562 cells transfected with HLA-G1 cDNA are protected from NK lysis by direct interaction between HLA-G1 and killing inhibitory receptor(s). This NK lysis inhibition is not dependent on HLA-E expression, since no HLA-E protein was detected on K562 cells; HLA-G1 is therefore able to inhibit NK lysis by itself.

HLA-G Truncated Isoforms Can Substitute for HLA-G1 in Fetal Survival

Pregnancy is considered as an immunologic paradox because the fetus can be viewed as a semiallograft by the mothers immune system. Among the different factors implicated in the maternal-fetal tolerance, a central role has been attributed to HLA-G. The primary HLA-G mRNA is alternatively spliced, encoding four membrane-bound isoforms (HLA-G1, -G2, -G3, and -G4), and three soluble forms (HLA-G5, -G6, and -G7). Whereas HLA-G1 is expressed on trophoblast cells, HLA-G2, -G3, and -G4 isoforms have been only identified as transcripts in trophoblast and term placentas. In this work, we first showed that these HLA-G transcripts are translated into proteins in first trimester cytotrophoblast cells. Then, using a target cell line transfected with HLA-G genomic DNA, we analyzed the functional implication of HLA-G isoforms expression on NK function. Our results show that not only HLA-G1, but also the other HLA-G truncated isoforms, can inhibit NK cytolysis and therefore contribute to immune privilege for the fetus.

Protective Role for Protease-Activated Receptor-2 against Influenza Virus Pathogenesis via an IFN-γ-Dependent Pathway

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2), a receptor highly expressed in the respiratory tract, can influence inflammation at mucosal surfaces. Although the effects of PAR2 in the innate immune response to bacterial infection have been documented, knowledge of its role in the context of viral infection is lacking. We thus investigated the role of PAR2 in influenza pathogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, stimulation of PAR2 on epithelial cells inhibited influenza virus type A (IAV) replication through the production of IFN-γ. In vivo, stimulation of PAR2 using specific agonists protected mice from IAV-induced acute lung injury and death. This effect correlated with an increased clearance of IAV in the lungs associated with increased IFN- γ production and a decreased presence of neutrophils and RANTES release in bronchoalveolar fluids. More importantly, the protective effect of the PAR2 agonist was totally abrogated in IFN- γ-deficient mice. Finally, compared with wild-type mice, PAR2-deficient mice were more susceptible to IAV infection and displayed more severe lung inflammation. In these mice higher neutrophil counts and increased RANTES concentration but decreased IFN- γ levels were observed in the bronchoalveolar lavages. Collectively, these results showed that PAR2 plays a protective role during IAV infection through IFN-γ production and decreased excessive recruitment of inflammatory cells to lung alveoli.

HLA-G expression in human melanoma cells: protection from NK cytolysis

Expression of the non-classical HLA-G class I antigen is physiologically restricted to a limited number of tissues including trophoblasts, and is thought to play a role in establishing tolerance of the fetus by the maternal immune system. We investigated whether ectopic expression of HLA-G could also be detected in tumor cells and confer them the ability to escape immune cytotoxic responses. High levels of all alternatively spliced HLA-G transcripts could be detected in melanoma cells by RT-PCR. Analysis of biopsies from a melanoma patient revealed a higher HLA-G transcription level in skin metastasis as compared to healthy skin, while specific amplification of the HLA-G5 transcript was only observable in the tumor. HLA-G protein expression could also be detected in two melanoma cell lines. HLA-G-positive tumors inhibit cytotoxic lysis by the NK cell line YT2C2-PR. This inhibition is not observed with B-EBV cell lines bearing matched class I specificities, and is thought to occur through interaction of HLA-G with inhibitory receptors that are distinct from known KIRs interacting with HLA-E or classical class I molecules. Together, these results confirm that HLA-G expression at the surface of tumor cells can participate in the evasion of antitumoral immune responses and favor tumor progression.