Pasha RPK, Shokrgozar MA, Bahrami ZS, Shokri F. Frequency analysis of B lymphocytes specific for Rh antigens in naturally immunized Rh-negative women.
Vox Sang 2004;
86:62-70. [PMID:
14984562 DOI:
10.1111/j.0042-9007.2004.00378.x]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Despite a successful outcome of the anti-D prophylaxis programme, alloimmunization still occurs. The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of Rh-specific B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of nine Rh-alloimmunized individuals at different time intervals after parturition.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The donors' B lymphocytes were transformed with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cultured at different cell densities over a feeder of human fetal fibroblasts. Culture supernatants were screened for human immunoglobulin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for anti-Rh antibody by using a direct haemagglutination technique. The percentage of CD19+ B lymphocytes in peripheral blood was determined by flow cytometry, and the frequency of Rh-specific B lymphocytes was estimated by limiting-dilution assay (LDA).
RESULTS
The frequency of Rh-specific B lymphocytes varied from 1 : 150 to 1 : 27,850 in different donors. There was a decrease in this frequency and level of anti-Rh antibody with increase in time interval between bleeding and last exposure to the antigen. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between the titre of Rh-specific antibody and frequency of Rh-specific B cells in each of three subjects bled at multiple time-points postdelivery.
CONCLUSIONS
The magnitude of the specific antibody response to Rh antigens varies greatly in Rh-alloimmunized women, which partly reflects the difference in frequency of specific B cells in these individuals.
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