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Memory B Cells in Pregnancy Sensitization

Anoma Nellore1, John T Killian2, Paige M Porrett2

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States.

Frontiers in Immunology
|July 19, 2021
PubMed

Memory B cells play an important role in immunity to pathogens as these cells are poised to rapidly differentiate into antibody-secreting cells upon antigen re-encounter. Memory B cells also develop over the course of HLA-sensitization during pregnancy and transplantation. In this review, we discuss the potential contribution of memory B cells to pregnancy sensitization as well as the impact of these cells on transplant candidacy and outcomes. We start by summarizing how B cell subsets are altered in pregnancy and discuss what is known about HLA-specific B cell responses given our current understanding of fetal antigen availability in maternal secondary lymphoid tissues. We then review the molecular mechanisms governing the generation and maintenance of memory B cells during infection - including the role of T follicular helper cells - and discuss the experimental evidence for the development of these cells during pregnancy. Finally, we discuss how memory B cells impact access to transplantation and transplant outcomes for a range of transplant recipients.

Keywords:
HLAantibodymemory B cellpregnancysensitization

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