Noncytotoxic antibodies to paternal antigens in maternal sera and placental eluates.
Noncytotoxic antibodies were detected in sera from 6 of 7 primigravid women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Such antibodies directed to antigens expressed on paternal B lymphocytes were detectable within the first 4-5 weeks of gestation. Antibody activity toward paternal B lymphocytes was also detected in 6 of 10 placental eluates, and in 3 of 10 predelivery and 2 of 10 postdelivery maternal serum samples. When B lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood were used as target cells, antibodies were detected in 5 of 7 placental eluates, and in 3 of 7 predelivery and 2 of 7 postdelivery serum samples. These antibodies also reacted with selected members of a normal B lymphocyte panel. The concept of an immunological enhancing mechanism in normal pregnancy is supported by these data.
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010334:Paternity; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000276:immunology
D007518:Isoantibodies; D007519:Isoantigens; D011961:Receptors, Fc