title: Systemic reduction of soluble complement receptor II/CD21 during pregnancy to levels reminiscent of autoimmune disease.
abstract: Complement receptor type II/CD21 is the functional receptor for complement fragments such as C3d, iC3b and the Epstein Barr Virus. A soluble form of CD21 (sCD21) is shed from lymphocytes surface and is able to bind to its ligands found in the plasma. The amount of sCD21 in serum may modulate immunity as the plasma levels are correlated with autoimmune conditions, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjoegren's Syndrome. Because of the fact that pregnancy may lead to remission of autoimmune diseases we determined the serum levels of sCD21 during pregnancy and postpartum. The serum sCD21 levels during pregnancy are significantly lower as compared to that of the healthy controls. There were no significant differences in sCD21 levels between the mother and the cord blood also immediately after parturition. Restoration of sCD21 levels to normal values takes between 6 weeks and 1 year after childbirth. Our study indicates that CD21-shedding is affected during pregnancy comparable to that of autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Madhan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masilamani
authors.forename: Narendiran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rajasekaran
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Hui-Zhi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albus
authors.forename: Swantje
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Behne
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eiermann
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mindnich
authors.forename: Teodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ribarska
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Illges
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d