Human autoantibodies recognizing human and mouse preimplantation stages.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether autoantibodies against human preimplantation stages are present in some human sera and, if so, whether the antibodies could be capable to affect the egg development and/or to trigger an activation of the complement system at the procedures of assisted conception.


METHODS
1. Immunohistochemistry on blots of human preimplantation stages. 2. Immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections of human and mouse preimplantation stages. 3. Culture of mouse morulae to analyze complement activation.


RESULTS
1. Some human sera contained autoantibodies against human preimplantation stages. 2. Human-mouse cross-reacting antibodies against preimplantation stages occurred. 3. Immune complexes, formed on mouse preimplantation stages, activated the complement systems in egg cultures, resulting in a damaging of the eggs.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of natural autoantibodies to preimplantation stages may be associated with reproduction failure, caused by a direct effect by the autoantibodies and/or an activation of the uterine complement system by the immune complexes formed.
Nilsson
B O
BO
Department of Human Anatomy, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, Sweden.
Jin
M
M
Larsson
A
A
Sundström
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy
D001323:Autoantibodies