Increased 'T lymphocyte' bearing Fc receptors for IgG in pregnancy.
T cell subpopulations as defined by E rosette formation and Fc receptors for immunoglobulins were determined, using ox red blood cells coated with the IgG or IgM fraction of rabbit anti-ox red blood cells antibody to form rosettes with the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 18 pregnant females and 12 healthy nonpregnant females. It was shown that the TG cell population in the pregnant females is significantly increased as compared to those in the nonpregnant controls (mean +/- SEM % TG cells: 18 +/- 1.2 vs. 9.6 +/- 0.7; p less than 0.001). By using peripheral blood from normal nonpregnant subjects it was also shown that TG cells suppressed one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions (mean +/- SEM suppression: 23 +/- 7.2; p less than 0.01). These findings suggest that the TG cell population may exert a suppressor function on the immune response to alloantigens and act in concert with other humoral factors to protect the fetus from rejection.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification
D011971:Receptors, Immunologic