Paternal cell immunization raises autoantibodies and improves pregnancy success in mice.
OBJECTIVE
Autoimmunity and alloimmunity are thought to be the bases of some recurrent miscarriages. Paternal cell immunization was used with varying success as the treatment of allo-immune-mediated recurrent miscarriages.


METHODS
Female mice immunized with paternal cells were assessed for development of male-specific antibodies and autoantibodies. Pregnancy success rates were compared between immunized and control mice.


RESULTS
The immunization with male cells resulted in an increase in the number of successful pregnancies without affecting the size of the litter. Surprisingly, paternal cell injections before the pregnancy induced mostly autoantibodies, rather than male-specific antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that autoantibodies may have a protective, rather than damaging role in promoting pregnancy.
Barjaktarevic
Igor
I
Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010-2970, USA.
Vukmanovic
Stanislav
S
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies