Biological implications of bi-directional fetomaternal cell traffic: a summary of a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-sponsored conference

Pregnancy outcome of patients with pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy

“…Stretching and breakage of skin connective tissue can produce an immune reaction by revealing antigens otherwise hidden from the maternal immune system [11]. Pregnancy is known to be associated with peripheral blood microchimerism, particularly during the third trimester, the time when PUPPP classically occurs [12,13]. Over-distension of the abdominal wall, leading to an increased vascular permeability might cause fetal cell migration into maternal skin, producing an immunologic reaction [14].…”

Gender as risk factor for autoimmune diseases

“…The amount of cell traffic increases with gestational age and, except for some complications of pregnancy (such as preeclampsia/ eclampsia), reaches a peak with delivery [23], when mode of delivery of the child determines its volume: as was recognized in HIV-infected mothers, neonatal HIV infections of newborns can be minimized if offspring are delivered by cesarean section. An operative delivery, prior to the onset of labor, minimizes maternal-to-fetal cell transfusions [24].…”

Influence of Maternal-Fetal Histocompatibility and MHC Zygosity on Maternal Microchimerism

“…M aternal microchimerism, the presence of very small fractional concentrations of chimeric maternal cells, occurs in at least half of all humans from fetal life into adulthood (1)(2)(3)(4). The factors that govern maternal microchimerism are poorly understood, but may be of considerable clinical relevance in view of the fact that maternal microchimerism has been associated with autoimmunity (5) and allograft tolerance (6), and may serve as a vehicle for vertical transmission of pathogenic microbes and allergens (7).…”