[Use of specific antibody to detect fetal erythroblasts in maternal circulation].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of using immunohistochemical technique to detect the presence of fetal erythroblasts in the maternal circulation for prenatal diagnosis.


METHODS
Maternal blood was obtained from 30 pregnant women at 8 to 26 weeks of gestation. Nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) were separated with Percoll using a discontinuous density gradient method, and then smeared on microscope slides using cytocentrifugation. Slides were stained with antibody against the gamma-chain of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). All positive NRBCs were collected by micromanipulator under microscopic observation, and then amplified by improved primer extension preamplification(PEP). Sex and Duchenne's musclar dystrophy (DMD) genetic diagnosis were determined from a small aliquot of the PEP reaction.


RESULTS
NRBCs stained with HbF were found in all of the blood from the 30 pregnant women at 8 to 26 weeks of gestation. 17 male fetuses and 13 female fetuses were detected in the 30 cases. These results coincided with those of induced labor or amniotic fluid control, and 8 fetuses at the risk of DMD were diagnosed.


CONCLUSIONS
This diagnostic method using immunohistochemical technique to mark fetal NRBC shows good application prospects.
Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University,Shenyang,Liaoning, 110001 P.R. China.
Liying
L
Liu
Chunlian
C
Jin
Yan
Y
Wang
Changkun
C
Lin
Qian
Q
Wang
Kailai
K
Sun
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000276:immunology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008853:Microscopy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin