HLA-A2 class I antigens in couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions

Class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antigens, locus A and B, were typed in fertile and infertile couples in cases where one of the spouses carried the HLA-A2 antigen. HLA-class I typing data were obtained from 282 participants, 63 fertile couples and 78 infertile couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). Locus A antigens were grouped into eight broad specificities (A1, A2, A3, A9, A10, A11, A19, A28) and locus B antigens were grouped, according to HLA epitopes, in two classes (BW4 and BW6). Although the number of cases is small, significant differences in the distribution of locus A antigens were found between HLA-A2-positive (A2+) women from fertile and infertile couples. HLA-A3, A11 and A28 cross-reacting antigens were absent in women from fertile couples and present in women from infertile couples. HLA-A19, which is associated with amino acid triplets of low immunogenicity, was significantly more often observed in A2+ fertile than in infertile women. An excess of the BW4 epitope was found in A2(-) husbands from infertile couples compared to fertile ones. The results of this study support the idea that in the presence of the HLA-A2 molecule the distribution of HLA-A and B loci antigens may be different in fertile couples compared to couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions. It can be suggested that the HLA-A2 molecule, in context with specific genotypes, may contribute to the overall maternal immune response in normal and disturbed pregnancy.