Two-way cell traffic between mother and fetus: biologic and clinical implications

Abstract

The bilateral trafficking of nucleated cells between the fetus and the mother was studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based systems sensitive enough to detect 1 target cell in 100,000 background cells. Sixty-six mother-baby pairs were recruited; maternal and cord blood samples were collected at delivery for DNA extraction. Cell trafficking was studied in informative cases using PCR-genotyping of polymorphic regions in the beta-globin cluster, the glutathione S-transferase M1 locus and the angiotensin converting enzyme gene. In addition, Y-PCR was also used in conjunction with these systems for the detection of fetal cells in maternal circulation. Fetal cells were detected in maternal peripheral blood in 26 of 51 cases whereas maternal cells were detected in 16 of 38 fetal umbilical cord blood samples. The proportion of umbilical samples with detectable maternal sequences was much higher than previously reported. In the 28 cases informative for both mother and baby, there was no obvious correlation between the cell traffic from mother to baby as compared to that from baby to mother. These findings may have implications for the use of cord blood for bone marrow transplantation, the vertical transmission of infectious agents, and the physiology of the feto-maternal relationship.

Autologous red cells derived from cord blood: collection, preparation, storage and quality controls with optimal additive storage medium (Sag‐mannitol)

“…A number of publications have demonstrated that a regular transfer of maternal cells to the fetus takes place during all stages of the pregnancy (Petit et al ., 1995; Lo et al ., 1996), especially under pathologic conditions (Brune et al ., 2002b). In the immunocompetent fetus, this initiates no immune reaction.…”

Fetomaternal cell trafficking: A new cause of disease?

“…Using a FISH assay with X‐ and Y‐chromosome specific probes Hall et al [1995] detected maternal cells in 10 of 49 male umbilical cord blood specimens. Using a more sensitive assay for β globin polymorphisms, Lo et al [1996] found evidence of maternal cells in 16 of 38 cord blood samples. Antenatal transfer of maternal cells into the fetus occurs as early as 13 weeks of gestation [Lo et al, 1998a].…”

Prediction of fetal D status from maternal plasma: introduction of a new noninvasive fetalRHDgenotyping service

“…Therefore, in alloimmunized pregnant women, there is a significant risk of boosting the maternal immune response to fetal RBC antigens. It is now established that during pregnancy there is two‐way trafficking of cells between the maternal and fetal circulation 4 . Therefore, fetal cells may be obtained from maternal peripheral blood for genetic analysis without endangering the fetus.…”