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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
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Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Maternal and fetal microchimerism in granulocytes
Chennakesava Cuddapah Sunku1, Vijayakrishna K Gadi, Berengere de Laval de Lacoste
1Clinical Research Division; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Chimerism
|February 18, 2011
Summary
Pregnancy can lead to microchimerism, where cells from mother and child mix. This study found that maternal microchimerism in CD66b(+) cells is more common and at higher levels than fetal microchimerism.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cell trafficking during pregnancy establishes microchimerism, involving fetal cells in mothers and maternal cells in children.
- The continuous replenishment of microchimerism, particularly in short-lived cells, remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and dynamics of fetal and maternal microchimerism in granulocytes, which have short half-lives.
- To determine if microchimerism is actively maintained and to compare the prevalence of maternal versus fetal microchimerism.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of granulocytes (CD66b-positive cells) from peripheral blood of healthy women using fluorescence-activated cell sorting.
- Application of polymorphism-specific quantitative PCR assays to detect and quantify fetal and maternal microchimerism.
Main Results:
- Microchimerism was detected in 33% of subjects within CD66b(+) cells.
- Maternal microchimerism (40%) was significantly more common and present at higher levels than fetal microchimerism (15%).
Conclusions:
- The presence of maternal and fetal CD66b(+) cells suggests an active microchimeric hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell niche.
- Microchimeric CD66b(+) cells may influence both innate and adaptive immune responses.
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