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Special Issue: Trends in HLA-G Research
INTRODUCTION
Special Issue: Trends in HLA-G Research HLA-G is a non-classical HLA class I molecule from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and was initially shown to confer protection to the fetus from the mother’s immune system. The Third International Conference on HLA-G, held in 2003, showed that beyond its role in fetal–maternal tolerance, HLA-G exerts tolerogenic functions involved in transplant acceptance as well as in tumoral and viral immune escape. The Fourth International Conference, which took place in Paris on July 2006, included 72 oral presentations and about 200 attendees from 25 countries. The reports presented brought new insight into HLA-G biology, whether through basic research on HLA-G polymorphism, expression regulation, and immunological functions or through more clinical research, diagnosis, and potential therapy in oncology research in multiple fields such as
Human Immunology 68, 219 (2007) © American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.
oncology, biology of pregnancy, and transplantation. The hallmarks of the Fourth International Conference on HLA-G, however, will remain the elucidation of HLA-G crystal structures and how they affect binding to its receptors, the demonstration of the significance of integration of HLA-G in multiparametric diagnosis of cancer, and the confirmation of the significance of soluble HLA-G titration as a prognosis tool for embryo selection after in vitro fertilization. In this special issue, we present selected papers that we feel are representative of the major issues addressed during this congress. Edgardo D. Carosella Editor and President of the Organizing Committee Joel LeMaoult Co-Editor
0198-8859/07/$–see front matter doi:10.1016/j.humimm.2007.03.003
Special Issue: Trends in HLA-G Research HLA-G is a non-classical HLA class I molecule from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and was initially shown to confer protection to the fetus from the mother’s immune system. The Third International Conference on HLA-G, held in 2003, showed that beyond its role in fetal–maternal tolerance, HLA-G exerts tolerogenic functions involved in transplant acceptance as well as in tumoral and viral immune escape. The Fourth International Conference, which took place in Paris on July 2006, included 72 oral presentations and about 200 attendees from 25 countries. The reports presented brought new insight into HLA-G biology, whether through basic research on HLA-G polymorphism, expression regulation, and immunological functions or through more clinical research, diagnosis, and potential therapy in oncology research in multiple fields such as
Human Immunology 68, 219 (2007) © American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.
oncology, biology of pregnancy, and transplantation. The hallmarks of the Fourth International Conference on HLA-G, however, will remain the elucidation of HLA-G crystal structures and how they affect binding to its receptors, the demonstration of the significance of integration of HLA-G in multiparametric diagnosis of cancer, and the confirmation of the significance of soluble HLA-G titration as a prognosis tool for embryo selection after in vitro fertilization. In this special issue, we present selected papers that we feel are representative of the major issues addressed during this congress. Edgardo D. Carosella Editor and President of the Organizing Committee Joel LeMaoult Co-Editor
0198-8859/07/$–see front matter doi:10.1016/j.humimm.2007.03.003