Human placental Fc receptors and the trapping of immune complexes
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Updated: Oct 28, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
1Rosenstiel Center for Basic Biomedical Sciences, W.M. Keck Institute for Cellular Visualization, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254-9110, USA. simister@hydra.rose.brandeis.edu
Monomeric maternal antibodies are transmitted to the fetus, but most immune complexes are trapped in the placental stroma. The receptors responsible for trapping immune complexes appear to be Fc gamma RIa, Fc gamma RIIa, and Fc gamma RIIIa on stromal macrophages, and Fc gamma RII on fetal capillary endothelial cells.
Monomeric maternal antibodies are transmitted to the fetus, but most immune complexes are trapped in the placental stroma. The receptors responsible for trapping immune complexes appear to be Fc gamma RIa, Fc gamma RIIa, and Fc gamma RIIIa on stromal macrophages, and Fc gamma RII on fetal capillary endothelial cells.
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