Can maternal microchimeric cells influence the fetal response toward self antigens?

Lucie Leveque1, Kiarash Khosrotehrani

  • 1The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research; The University of Queensland; Brisbane, QLD Australia.

Chimerism
|December 14, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Maternal cells transferring to offspring, a phenomenon called microchimerism, may influence the development of autoimmune diseases like diabetes. This early immunological event could alter fetal immune responses towards self-antigens.