Effect of pathological perinatal conditions on the maternofetal transfer of mononuclear cells

Objective: It is known that mononuclear cells can cross the placenta in both directions: from mother to fetus and the other way. In addition, it has been shown that perinatal pathological conditions can affect the fetomaternal cell transfer. This study has focused on the question whether perinatal conditions will also support the transfer of maternal cells in the fetus. Methods: Minisatellite polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a sensitivity of 1:100 was used to examine blood samples of 36 mother-child pairs for transplacental mononuclear cell transfer (group 1). Furthermore, 28 blood samples of mother-child pairs were examined by allele-specific PCR (sensitivity 1:1,000) for maternofetal mononuclear cell transfer; only 9 of these mother-child pairs were informative (group 2). Results: Three cases of maternofetal and 2 additional cases of feto-maternal mononuclear cell transfer could be documented in group 1; 2 of the 9 informative samples in group 2 showed a maternofetal mono-nuclear cell transfer. In conclusion, 9 of 40 cases lacking maternofetal cell transfer and 4 of 5 cases with maternofetal cell transfer were high-risk deliveries (p<0.01). Conclusion: The current study shows that certain antepartum conditions like placental insufficiency or chorioamnionitis increase significantly the chance that maternal cells enter the fetus. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.