Immunoregulation Mother‐Fetus/Newborn, a RoIe for Anti‐idiotypic Antibodies

Feto-Maternal Interaction of Antibody and Antigen Transfer, Immunity and Allergy Development

“…Cramer et al (1974) suggested several mechanisms by which the maternal environment may influence the immunological development of the offspring, none of which, the authors claimed, need be mutually exclusive: first, the passage of maternal antibody via the placenta with alteration of fetal immune response by specific antibody; secondly, the passage of immunological information products, such as transfer factor, from mother via the placenta; thirdly, active migration of sensitized maternal lymphocytes to the fetus, with proliferation and participation in the immune response or recruitment of fetal lymphocytes for specific response; lastly, the transplacental passage of antigen to the fetus and direct sensitization of its lymphocytes. In addition to the above mechanisms of maternal influence, maternal anti-idiotype IgG antibody transfer has been implicated as being the most likely stimulus in the fetus for the production of antibodies to allergens before birth (Hanson et al 1989;Hahn-Zoric et al 1993). …”