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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Purification of HLA-G+ Extravillous Trophoblasts from Human Term Placental Tissues for Phenotyping and Functional Analysis
Published on: March 13, 2026
Antigen-specific T cell immune response detected by skewed T cell receptor usage in normal placenta and complete
Zoltan Nagymanyoki1, Marcus O Butler, Michael J Callahan
1Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, New England Trophoblastic Disease Center, Donald P. Goldstein, M.D., Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Objective:
To investigate the antigenicity of normal placenta and complete molar trophoblastic tissue.
Study Design:
T cell receptor (TCR) variable beta chain (VBC) gene expression was analyzed utilizing fresh frozen tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) were performed on cDNA samples from 10 normal buffy coats (BC), 7 normal placentas (NP) and 14 complete molar pregnancies (CM) using a TCR beta chain and 25 variable TCR beta chain primers. Relative expressions were calculated for each individual gene.
Results:
Significant changes were noted in most of the gene expressions in NP and CM as compared to the buffy coat samples. The relative expression of most genes was significantly decreased in NP and CM, but VBC gene number 4 was increased in both NP and CM; however, a significant difference was noted only between BC and CM (p = 0.023). Comparing NP to CM, 5 other VBC gene expressions were decreased significantly in the CM tissues (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
In normal placenta and CM pregnancies, T cells appear to express certain TCR VBC genes in a different manner than in BC. These genes and the VBC gene profile difference found between NP and CM may play an important role in the immunobiology of CM pregnancy.
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