DR-Positive Maternal Engrafted T Cells in a Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Patient Without Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Microchimerism of maternal origin persists into adult life

“…However, 2 recent studies have also found evidence of maternal cells in the fetal circulation in elective terminations in early and late gestation (19,20). Maternal cells are known to engraft and persist in the circulation of infants with severe combined immunodeficiency (4,(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). However, to our knowledge, no previous study has specifically examined longterm persistence of maternal cells in immunologically competent offspring.…”

Why are levels of maternal microchimerism higher in type 1 diabetes pancreas?

“…Maternal microchimerism (MMc, the harboring of a small number of maternal cells, or DNA by her offspring) was recognized in children with severe combined immunodeficiency more than 30 years ago 1 and has been found to persist into adult life in healthy subjects. 2 Most studies of maternal microchimerism have focused on analysis of hematopoietic cells but it is increasingly clear from human 3 and animal studies 4 that microchimeric cells also exist in other tissues including the liver, heart and brain.…”

Cells from a vanished twin as a source of microchimerism 40 years later in a male with a scleroderma-like condition.

“…The frequency of chimerism from this source is not yet known and whether the scleroderma-like disease observed in the patient is anecdotal or implies a potential association with autoimmune disease remains to be elucidated. Key words: chimerism, twin, scleroderma, gender, HLA-specific PCR blood from infants with severe combined immunodeficiency, 8 and subsequently detected in immuno-competent individuals 5,9 and implicated in women with SSc. Microchimeric cells can also be transferred in utero from a twin and potentially from an unrecognized (vanished) twin.…”