Fetal-maternal microchimerism in normal parous females and parous female cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of male microchimerism (MC) in parous females, nonparous females, and parous female cancer patients was examined.


METHODS
DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and male Y-chromosomal DNA was amplified using a sensitive two-stage polymerase chain reaction technique. Controls prepared by mixing human male and female cell lines demonstrated the sensitivity of the technique to be in the range of 1 male cell per 1 million female cells.


RESULTS
Findings of this study showed that the percentage of MC-positive females was highly dependent on the amount of DNA analyzed; 57% of normal parous females who bore at least one son were found to have male cells in their blood when 25 mug DNA or more from the samples was analyzed. This frequency is much higher than previous reports indicating a prevalence of 33% for normal parous females. Analysis of samples obtained from 200 parous female cancer patients revealed an incidence of 34% MC(+); 7.4% of normal nonparous female controls had evidence of MC.


CONCLUSIONS
The long-term persistence of male cells in the maternal circulation could indicate maternal immune tolerance of paternally inherited fetal antigens. This maternal tolerance might be exploited in female patients with malignant disease to deliver immune cellular therapy from their sons.
Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA15224-2207, USA.
Gary L
GL
Gilmore
Bushra
B
Haq
Richard K
RK
Shadduck
Sri Lakshmi
SL
Jasthy
John
J
Lister
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046528:Chimerism / Q000187:drug effects; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005819:Genetic Markers; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA