Cytotoxic antibody against trophoblast and lymphocytes present in pregnancy with intrauterine fetal growth retardation and its relation to anti-phospholipid antibody.
To elucidate immunological mechanisms involved in the genesis of intra-uterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR), an in vitro cytotoxicity assay against normal trophoblast and lymphocytes was performed. The data demonstrated the existence of cytotoxic antibody directed against trophoblast exclusively in the IgG fraction of the sera of 9 out of 15 mothers with IUGR, but in none of the sera from normal pregnant women. This antibody showed differential reactivity patterns that may be indicative women. This antibody showed differential reactivity patterns that may be trophoblast in common. Out of 9 IUGR mothers with this cytotoxic antibody, in 6 cases (66.7%) chronic villitis was evident upon microscopic examination of the placenta, the frequency being significantly higher than that in IUGR mothers without cytotoxicity or in control mothers (P less than 0.02). It is suggested that in situ inflammatory change triggered by this antibody might lead to IUGR through chronic villitis. This antibody showed cross-reactivity with anti-negatively charged phospholipid antibody, as confirmed by an absorption experiment, indicating that the trophoblast antigenic stimuli in pregnancy can induce the production of various autoantibodies including anti-phospholipid antibodies. These results are of interest in relation to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
Hasegawa
I
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Takakuwa
K
K
Adachi
S
S
Kanazawa
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D015941:Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D010743:Phospholipids