Classical, polymorphic major histocompatibility complex class I molecules are
expressed on most nucleated cells.They present peptides at the cell surface and,
thus, enable the immune system to scan peptides for their antigenicity. The
function of the other, nonclassical class I molecules in man is controversial.
HLA-G which has been shown by transfection experiments to be expressed at the
cell surface, is only transcribed in placental tissue and in the fetal eye.Therefore, a
role of HLA-G in the control of rejection of the allogeneic fetus has been
discussed. We found that HLA-G expression is induced in keratinocytes by
culture in vitro. Three different alternative splicing products of HLA-G can be
detected: a full length transcript, an mRNA lacking exon 3 and a transcript devoid
of exon 3 and 4. Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction also
revealed the presence of HLA-G mRNA in vivo in biopsies of either diseased or
healthy skin