Detection of B‐Cell‐Specific Alloantibodies in Pregnancy Sera in the Lymphocytotoxicity and the Indirect Immunofluorescence Techniques

Abstract

Pregnancy sera (208) were tested for the presence of antibodies specific for lymphocyte sub-populations by using the isolated B [bone marrow-derived] and T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes from the women''s mating partners. This was done by the microlymphocytotoxicity and the indirect immunofluorescence techniques. Five sera (2.5%) reacted exclusively with B lymphocytes and 63 sera (30.2%) reacted with B and T lymphocytes; none of the sera was specific for T cells. Several sera, reacting with B and T lymphocytes, were absorbed with platelets and this procedure revealed 9 additional antisera specific for B lymphocyte antigens. Specificity studies on a panel of 48 HLA-ABCD typed individuals indicated that most antisera possibly defined new B-cell antigens. Family studies established that the antigens defined by these antisera were coded for by genes in the major histocompatibility complex.