IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN TROPHOBLAST MEMBRANE-ANTIGENS IN MATERNAL BLOOD DURING PREGNANCY

Abstract

The development of an immunoradiometric assay for the detection of human trophoblast-specific membrane antigens is described. The test revealed, for the 1st time, circulating trophoblast-specific cell mbmrane antigens in the peripheal blood of pregnant women, but none in non-pregnant female or male controls. Comparison of the circulating levels of these trophoblast-specific proteins between normal and pre-eclamptic blood samples showed no significant differences, thus casting doubt on the role of different trophoblast antigen deportation in the etiology of toxemic pregnancy. Matched retroplacental cord blood from several normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies were examined and found either negative or near the lower sensitivity limit of the assay, suggesting that deportation of trophoblast membrane antigens during gestation is limited to the maternal aspect of the placenta.