HLA antibody repertoire in infants suggests selectivity in transplacental crossing.

ABSTRACT:

Problem

Late in pregnancy, women produce and transfer high amounts of antibodies to the foetus. During gestation, women produce antibodies against human leukocyte antigens (HLA), including antibodies directed at foetal HLA. There is paucity of data on transplacental crossing, specificity and role of HLA antibodies in pregnancy and new-borns.

Method of study

Using highly sensitive Luminex technology, we measured prevalence of IgG HLA antibodies in 30 mother-infant pairs six weeks post-partum. Additionally, in six pregnant women, we measured HLA antibodies longitudinally and HLA-typed infant DNA to assess whether maternal HLA antibodies were directed at infant specificities.

Results

Overall, 68% of mothers and 44% of infants expressed HLA-I antibodies and 56% of mothers

SUBMITTER: Savulescu DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7507134 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature