The association of maternal lymphocytotoxic antibodies with obstetric complications

Obstetrics and Gynecology
|September 1, 1976
PubMed

The immunologic relation between mother and fetus has become of interest to those concerned with reproductive physiology. One method to assay this type of relation is to determine the immunologic response to HLA antigens expressed by the fetus which are of paternal origin. Although 20 to 50% of multiparous women develop lymphocytotoxic antibodies during pregnancy, the effect of these antibodies on gestation or the fetus has not been established. In a prospective study, 23 patients at the time of spontaneous abortion had negative cytotoxic antibodies. Of 129 obstetric patients followed with antibody screening over a 6 to 7 month period until delivery, 28 developed positive lymphocytotoxic antibodies (22%). These 28 patients with cytotoxic antibodies delivered male infants by a ratio of 4 to 3, and 11 patients (39.3%) had complications during the gestation. The responsiveness to the paternal histocompatibility antigens is valuable information for furthering the understanding of the fetal-maternal relation.

Related Concept Videos

Humoral Immune Responses01:36

Humoral Immune Responses

Overview
Transcytosis of IgG01:15

Transcytosis of IgG

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...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

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...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

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...
Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...