title: The cellular immunobiology associated with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is caused by maternal antibodies that cross the placenta in connection with pregnancy and destroy fetal platelets. Recently, maternal T cell responses associated with FNAIT have been studied at the clonal level. These T cell clones recognize an integrin β3 epitope, which is anchored to the HLA-DRB3∗0101-encoded MHC molecule DR52a. The same MHC allele is strongly associated with FNAIT. As the production of pathological antibodies reactive with fetal platelets is likely dependent on these T cell responses, there exists a potential for preventing FNAIT by targeting these T cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. tor.brynjar.stuge@uit.no
authors.forename: Tor B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Stuge
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skogen
authors.forename: Maria Therese
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ahlen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Husebekk
authors.forename: Stanislaw J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Urbaniak
authors.forename: Hagop
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bessos
mesh_terms: D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D054098:Thrombocytopenia, Neonatal Alloimmune / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016824:Antigens, Human Platelet