Association of the maternal 14-bp insertion polymorphism in the HLA-G gene in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G has been postulated as an important immunotolerant molecule in maintaining fetal-maternal relationship. Recent reports indicated that the 14-bp deletion/insertion polymorphism in exon 8 of HLA-G gene influences HLA-G mRNA stability and isoform splicing patterns, thus modulating the levels of HLA-G expression. This might play an immunomodulatory role of HLA-G during implantation and pregnancy. In the present study, 109 unrelated fertile control women and 79 women who had experienced recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) were genotyped for the 14-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of 14-bp insertion/deletion genotype between controls and the RSA group. However, a greater number of 14-bp insertion alleles exist in the RSA group than in the controls.