title: Maternofetal transfer of antibodies and the influence of maternal atopic status on the neonate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiologic evidence has shown that sensitization of allergic diseases develops early in life, even before birth. The gestational environment, including maternal atopic status and transplacentally transferred antibodies to allergens, may be of importance in the sensitization process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate maternofetal transfer of antibodies and the influence of maternal atopic status on the neonatal immune response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven healthy pregnant women who underwent elective cesarean section (ECS) were recruited. Total and specific IgE (Phadiatop) levels in cord blood (CB) and maternal blood (MB) were determined using the ImmunoCAP assay. MB- and CB-specific IgG1 and IgA1 antibodies against ovalbumin and house dust mite were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The cytokines, interleukin (IL)-13, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-10 in the supernatant of cultured CB mononuclear cells were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Two subgroups were defined based on the maternal levels of specific IgE (atopic group, Phadiatop IgE more than or equal to 0.35 kilo international units of allergen-specific antibody (KUA)/L; nonatopic group, Phadiatop IgE less than 0.35 KUA/L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although total IgE was detectable in all MB samples, it could only be detected in 7% (4/57) of the CB samples. Specific IgE was detectable in all MB samples but undetectable in all CB samples. There was no correlation of total IgE between mothers and their neonates. The concentrations of IL-10, IL-13, and allergen-specific IgG1 and IgA1 in the CB samples did not differ significantly between the atopic and nonatopic groups. IFN-γ was undetectable in the CB samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal IgE cannot be transferred to the child in utero. Maternal atopic status has no significant effect on neonatal immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei province, China.
authors.forename: Zizhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Quanming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junmei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Weijia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000276:immunology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D021041:Placental Circulation; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines