Faculty Research 1970 - 1979
Pregnant mice are not primed but can be primed to fetal alloantigens.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1979
Keywords
Cells-Cultured, Cytotoxicity-Immunologic, Female, Fetus: im, Immunity-Cellular, Isoantigens, Lymph-Nodes: im, Mice, Pregnancy, Pregnancy-Animal, Spleen: im
First Page
2410
Last Page
2414
JAX Source
Proc-Natl-Acad-Sci-USA. 1979 May; 76(5):2410-4.
Abstract
In this report we present evidence gathered from various stages of murine pregnancy that indicates that pregnant females have no demonstrable immune effector function directed against their semiallogeneic fetuses. Specifically, by using in vitro assays we found that cytotoxic lymphocytes were not present in pregnant mice, and pregnant mice challenged with radiolabeled paternal strain leukemia cells showed no evidence of immune elimination. Nonetheless, immunity measurable both in vitro and in vivo was readily induced by priming with the paternal strain cells. No harm to the fetus was observed in primed mothers. These results cast doubt on the relevance of mechanisms proposed that involve systemic active suppression during pregnancy. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that the placenta acts as a barrier, preventing fetal cells from priming the mother.
Recommended Citation
Wegmann TG,
Waters CA,
Drell DW,
Carlson GA.
Pregnant mice are not primed but can be primed to fetal alloantigens. Proc-Natl-Acad-Sci-USA. 1979 May; 76(5):2410-4.