Fetomaternal cell traffic, pregnancy-associated progenitor cells, and autoimmune disease

Fetal Microchimerism in the Maternal Mouse Brain: A Novel Population of Fetal Progenitor or Stem Cells Able to Cross the Blood–Brain Barrier?

“…Recently, there has been much speculation that fetal microchimerism may have implications in maternal health [32][33][34][35]. It is possible that fetal microchimeric cells may participate in the maternal response to injury [35].…”

Naturally acquired tolerance and sensitization to minor histocompatibility antigens in healthy family members

“…6 There is ample evidence for a mutual exchange of mature blood and progenitor cells between the mother and her fetus. Whereas mature blood cells have a limited lifespan, hematopoietic stem cells 7 and HLA dim mesenchymal stem cells 8 may engraft in the bone marrow, where they remain throughout life. Cells obviously derived from fetal hematopoietic progenitor cells can be detected in the maternal circulation up to several decades after the delivery.…”

“…9 Likewise, hematopoietic 6,10 and nonhematopoietic 11 cells from maternal origin may persist into adulthood. The tolerogenic potential of chimerism, established either through bone marrow transplantation (macrochimerism) 12 or through pregnancy (microchimerism), 7 has been documented in both rodent 13,14 and in human transplantation settings. 15,16 We earlier described the presence of minor H antigen HA-1-specific T CTL , minor H antigen HA-1-specific T REG , and HA-1 ϩ circulating microchimeric cells in the setting of kidney transplantation.…”

Noninvasive Prenatal Nucleic Acid Diagnostics of Down Syndrome

“…It is indicative of an unequal transfer of free DNA from fetus to the mother. Another source of fetal molecules may be fetal hematopoietic cells which get into the maternal circulation (Bianchi, 2004). The fetal DNA is apoptically released into maternal plasma due to the effect of maternal immune system (Pertl et al, 2000).…”

“…Cff DNA was also demonstrated in the maternal plasma even before feto-maternal circulation establishment. This means that the DNA could be of the trofoblastic origin (Bianchi et al, 2004). In general, it could be assumed that cff DNA in maternal circulation is of different origin but its large portion likely comes from the trophoblastic placental tissue.…”