Allergic women show reduced T helper type 1 alloresponses to fetal human leucocyte antigen mismatch during pregnancy.
Low-level alloreactivity between mother and fetus may provide stimulation for fetal T helper type 1 (Th1) cell immune maturation. This study explored the effects of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch on materno-fetal interactions detected as cytokine responses and lymphoproliferation in mixed lymphocyte reactions, and whether this was altered in allergic women (n = 62) who have a Th2 propensity compared with non-allergic women (n = 65). HLA-DRbeta1 mismatch was associated with significantly increased Th1 interferon (IFN)-gamma, Th2 interleukin (IL)-13 and lymphoproliferative responses by both mothers and fetuses. Allergic women showed significantly lower IFN-gamma Th1 production in response to HLA-DRbeta1 mismatch. The infants of these women also showed significantly lower IL-10 and lower IFN-gamma production relative to IL-13. Both HLA-DRbeta1 mismatch and maternal allergy had significant independent effects on maternal IFN-gamma Th1 responses. Maternal allergy modifies HLA-mediated alloreactivity between the mother and the fetus, reducing Th1 activation. This may affect the cytokine milieu at the materno-fetal interface and could be implicated in the attenuated Th1 responses observed commonly in infants of atopic mothers.
Prescott
S L
SL
School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. sprescott@meddent.uwa.edu.au
Breckler
L A
LA
Witt
C S
CS
Smith
L
L
Dunstan
J A
JA
Christiansen
F T
FT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D020073:Gravidity / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D011247:Pregnancy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D006680:HLA Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007519:Isoantigens; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma