Monocyte chemotactic factor production in mixed cultures of maternal and neonatal human lymphocytes

The immunological interaction between related maternal and neonatal human lymphocytes was investigated by assaying monocyte chemotactic factor production in mixed cell culture. Lymphokine was detected in a significantly lower proportion of maternal-neonatal cell cultures compared to mixed cultures of cells from unrelated adults and/or neonates. It is possible that a reduced inflammatory mediator production at the feto-maternal interface may contribute to the survival of the fetal allograft.