Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
07:51
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
18.0K
Natalizumab during pregnancy and lactation
Undine Proschmann1, Katja Thomas1, Sandra Thiel2
1Neuroimmunological Lab, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany/Multiple Sclerosis Center, Center of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|September 1, 2017
Summary
Natalizumab (NAT) transfers to breast milk and across the placenta, detectable in newborns. Further research is needed to assess the safety of natalizumab exposure during pregnancy and lactation in multiple sclerosis patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
Background:
- Managing multiple sclerosis (MS) during pregnancy and lactation requires balancing risks of disease activity against potential harm to the newborn.
- Natalizumab (NAT) is a critical treatment for MS, but its use during pregnancy and lactation presents safety considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the transfer of natalizumab (NAT) into breast milk.
- To evaluate the presence of NAT in newborn serum following maternal treatment during pregnancy and lactation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of free NAT in maternal serum and breast milk samples using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) assay.
- Assessment of cell-bound NAT, very-late-antigen (VLA)-4 expression, and NAT saturation on immune cells in mother-infant pairs via FACS.
Main Results:
- Free NAT was detected in most maternal serum pairs (6/11) and all breast milk samples.
- Cell-bound NAT was found in both mothers and newborns, with higher levels observed in infants.
- Newborns showed potentially higher VLA-4 expression, with comparable NAT saturation levels to mothers.
Conclusions:
- Natalizumab crosses the placental barrier and is present in breast milk.
- Detectable NAT on neonatal lymphocytes may have functional implications.
- Further research is essential to determine the safety and risks associated with natalizumab exposure during pregnancy and lactation.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
4.3K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
4.3K
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
1.0K
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
1.0K
01:15Transcytosis of IgG
4.3K
Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
4.3K
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
1.3K
Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
1.3K
01:19Rh Blood Group
3.5K
The Rhesus (Rh) antigen is crucial in determining blood groups and ensuring compatibility during blood transfusions.
3.5K
01:19Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
451
The nursing management of Mitral Valve Prolapse, or MVP, centers around patient education, symptom monitoring, and lifestyle modifications.Patient Education on MVP Diagnosis and Heredity: Nurses should provide comprehensive education about MVP, a condition where the mitral valve does not close appropriately during heartbeats. This education often includes the condition's pathophysiology, symptoms, and potential complications, like arrhythmias or mitral regurgitation. Though not fully...
451