Foreign fetal cells persist in the maternal circulation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether allogenic fetal cells resulting from donor egg pregnancies persist in maternal circulation.


METHODS
Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the DYS14 sequence, a region of the Y chromosome, from DNA purified from peripheral blood cells.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Healthy 18-60-year-old women who have had donor egg pregnancies resulting in a male offspring (n = 11) or, as a control, female offspring (n = 8), at least 1 year previously and without any other source for male cells in their peripheral blood or a healthy male.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Detection of DYS14 sequence by nested PCR.


RESULTS
DYS14 was detected in 5/11 (45%) of women who had donor egg pregnancies resulting in a male offspring, but in 0/8 (0) of women who had donor egg pregnancies resulting in a female offspring. The longest interval between delivery of a male offspring and detection of the DYS14 gene was 9 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Unmatched, allogenic fetal cells from donor egg pregnancies are able to persist in the circulation of healthy women for at least 9 years after delivery. This implies a novel mechanism by which immunologic detection is avoided by these cells and may impact on how they may be used for regenerative and transplant medicine.
Williams
Zev
Z
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. zwilliams2@partners.org
Zepf
Dimity
D
Longtine
Janina
J
Anchan
Raymond
R
Broadman
Betsy
B
Missmer
Stacey A
SA
Hornstein
Mark D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D046528:Chimerism; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
D004247:DNA