Monoclonal antibodies against maternal major histocompatibility complex class I molecules induce rapid abortion in mice.
OBJECTIVE
The role of antibodies against fetal or maternal antigens in maintaining or losing pregnancy is not clear.


METHODS
Term-pregnant mice were injected with monoclonal antibodies against only fetal or fetal and maternal major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. The development of pregnancy was then followed.


RESULTS
Antibodies against maternal, but not fetal, major histocompatibility complex class I molecules induced abortion in mice. The abortion occurred 6-8 hr after the administration of autoreactive antibodies. The abortion could only be induced after the formation of placenta. Antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha could not prevent or postpone the abortion. Extensive bleeding has been detected in the placenta of aborting mice 3 hr after the administration of the antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that autoreactive antibodies present risk for pregnancy and that the damage leading to abortion induced by such antibodies most likely occurs at the maternal side of placenta.
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology