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Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)
Published on: March 25, 2016
Paternal cell immunization raises autoantibodies and improves pregnancy success in mice
Igor Barjaktarevic1, Stanislav Vukmanovic
1Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010-2970, USA.
Problem:
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.
Method Of Study:
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.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that autoantibodies may have a protective, rather than damaging role in promoting pregnancy.
