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Human fetal cells. I. Mitogenic responses
Insights
Human fetal cells
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Fetal cells circulate in maternal blood during pregnancy.
- Understanding fetal cell immunobiology is crucial for prenatal diagnostics and understanding maternal-fetal interactions.
- Previous studies have explored fetal cell responses to mitogens with varying results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess the mitogenic responses of human fetal cells from different sources.
- To compare the responsiveness of isolated versus non-isolated fetal cells.
- To investigate the influence of gestational age and mitogen type on fetal cell activation.
Main Methods:
- Human fetal cells were obtained from premature infants and maternal blood.
- Cells were exposed to various T-cell and B-cell mitogens: phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed, dextran sulfate, and lipopolysaccharide.
- Mitogenic responses were quantified to assess cellular activation.
Main Results:
- Fetal cell responsiveness to mitogens was age-dependent, increasing with gestational age.
- Phytohemagglutinin induced the strongest stimulation in fetal cells.
- Fetal cells in maternal blood showed reduced or absent responses to lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulfate compared to infant cells.
Conclusions:
- Mitogenic responses of fetal cells are influenced by gestational age, cell source, and experimental conditions.
- Fetal cells in maternal circulation may differ immunologically from those within the fetus.
- Current mitogens tested are insufficient for selective stimulation of fetal cells in maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis.
Abstract:
Human fetal cells from 10 prematures and newborn infants (28--38 weeks of gestational age) and isolated or non-isolated fetal cells circulating in the blood of 9 primigravidae were studied in their ability to respond to phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed, dextran sulfate and lipopolysaccharide. An age-dependent responsiveness of fetal cells obtained from the prematures to all mitogens tested was detected as well as a clear graduation of mitogenic capacity with phytohemagglutinin to produce the highest stimulation. Though a moderate mitogenic response to lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulfate was noted in the blood cultures of the infants, LPS and in part DS transformation of fetal cells obtained from maternal blood appeared to be reduced or absent. A selective stimulation of fetal cells occurring in the circulation of primiparae sufficient for prenatal diagnosis could not be achieved with the mitogens tested. The findings suggest that fetal cells crossing to the mother are different from normal fetal lymphocytes. The present study was performed to elucidate in as quantitative a manner as possible the responses of human fetal cells to different T- and B-cell mitogens. Cells were obtained from various sources for comparing the mitogenic responses of isolated and non-isolated fetal cells. Our results demonstrate that mitogenic responses depend on the gestational age of the fetal cells, the source of the cells and on experimental conditions.