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Maternal microchimerism protects against the development of asthma
Emma E Thompson1, Rachel A Myers, Gaixin Du
1Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA. eethomps@uchicago.edu
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|February 26, 2013
Summary
Maternal microchimerism (MMc), the transfer of maternal cells to offspring, may protect against childhood asthma development. Lower asthma rates were observed in MMc-positive children, suggesting a potential protective role.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Maternal asthma and child's sex are known asthma risk factors.
- Mechanisms may involve nonclassical genetics, such as maternal microchimerism (MMc).
- MMc's role in asthma and allergic diseases is uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if maternal microchimerism (MMc) rates differ between children with and without asthma.
- To determine if MMc transmission or persistence varies based on maternal asthma or child's sex.
- To explore MMc's potential role in asthma development.
Main Methods:
- Tested hypotheses in 317 subjects across 3 independent cohorts.
- Utilized a real-time quantitative PCR assay.
- Detected noninherited HLA alleles in children to identify MMc.
Main Results:
- MMc was detected in 20.5% of subjects.
- MMc-positive subjects had significantly lower asthma rates (OR, 0.38; P=.029).
- Maternal asthma and child's sex did not predict MMc presence.
Conclusions:
- Maternal microchimerism (MMc) may offer protection against asthma development.
- This is the first study suggesting a protective role for MMc in asthma.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate MMc's mechanisms in asthma prevention.
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