Antigen processing and presentation by human trophoblast-derived cell lines.

The trophoblast-derived choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG-3 and JAR express the nonclassical MHC class I molecules HLA-G (JEG-3) or, at a low level, HLA-E (JAR), but lack expression of the classical MHC class I molecules HLA-A and HLA-B. Expression of these nonclassical MHC class I genes was found to coincide with expression of the genes encoding the peptide transporter associated with Ag processing (TAP). In immunoprecipitation studies, a physical interaction between the TAP complex and HLA-G or HLA-E could be demonstrated. To investigate whether trophoblast-derived cell lines were capable of peptide processing, transport, and loading of MHC class I molecules, HLA-A*0201-expressing transfectants of JEG-3 and JAR were used for functional studies. These transfectants were recognized by both allospecific cytotoxic T cell clones and, after viral infection, by an influenza A matrix peptide-specific cytotoxic T cell clone, indicating that these trophoblast-derived cell lines were capable of presenting endogenously derived peptides in the context of HLA-A*0201. From these observations, it can be inferred that the TAP complex and other molecules involved in Ag processing and presentation by MHC class I molecules are functionally active in these trophoblast-derived cell lines. This implies that trophoblasts are able to provide antigenic peptides for presentation by nonclassical MHC class I molecules that are naturally expressed by this cell type.