Prenatally diagnosable differences in the cellular immunity of fetuses with Down's and Edwards' syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Lymphocyte subpopulations are identified by the uniform CD classification (Cluster of Differentiation) and can be accurately differentiated with monoclonal antibodies using the method of flow cytometry. With the aid of cordocentesis it is possible to perform studies on the status and development of cellular immunity as early as in the second trimester of pregnancy.


OBJECTIVE
To compare lymphocyte subpopulations present in fetuses with chromosomal abnormalities (Down's syndrome (DS), Edwards' syndrome (ES)) and fetuses with normal karyotype.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
We examined a total of 61 pregnant women with an average age of 31.5 years (20- 46 years).


RESULTS
In fetuses with DS we found a significant decrease in B lymphocytes (CD19),a decrease in the subpopulations of multi-reactive B-cells (CD5(+)CD19(+), B-CLL),and a decrease in the index of CD4/CD8 and class II HLA-DR. In contrast, the representation of NK cells expressing /CD3-CD (16 + 56)+/ was greatly increased. In ES we found a decrease in T lymphocytes (CD3), a decrease in T-helper lymphocytes (monocytes CD4), a decreased index of CD4/CD8 and a greater representation of NK cells /CD3-CD (16 + 56)+/.


CONCLUSIONS
We determined the normal values of lymphocyte subpopulations in physiological fetuses. We demonstrated that the immunological defect of the affected fetuses is already present antenatally, and can be reliably diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Zizka
Zdenek
Z
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Faculty Hospital and 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. zzizka@llf1.cuni.cz
Calda
Pavel
P
Fait
Tomas
T
Haakova
Lucia
L
Kvasnicka
Jan
J
Viskova
Hana
H
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21; D017218:Cordocentesis; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013577:Syndrome; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014314:Trisomy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD