Skip to main content
Log in

Intrauterine Isoimmunization caused by Maternal IgA crossing the Placenta

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

THE IgG of the neonatal human infant is almost entirely derived by selective transplacental passage of maternal IgG, but IgA and IgM are considered incapable of transplacental passage. In spite of immunological immaturity, the human foetus has been shown to produce antibodies, predominantly IgM, in response to various bacterial and viral antigens1,2. The very low level of IgM detectable at birth is of foetal origin1. IgA is synthesized by the foetus in exceedingly limited amounts, for only very low concentrations of IgA in cord serum have been detected by highly sensitive techniques. Nonetheless, small amounts must be synthesized by the foetus because immunization of pregnant women to IgA is not infrequent. We have observed that about 15 per cent of the mothers of recently delivered babies have antibody to IgA (anti-IgA) detectable in their sera (unpublished observations). Similarly, Cassidy et al. have also observed anti-IgA in sera of women who have never received parenteral injection of IgA in the form of blood or blood products3. Such antibodies may be directed against the allotypic antigens of IgA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schultze, H. E., and Hermans, J. F., Molecular Biology of Human Proteins, 1, 532, 533, 556 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  2. McCracken, jun., G. H., Chen, T. C., Hardy, J. B., and Tzan, N., J. Pediat., 74, 378 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cassidy, J. T., Petty, B., Burt, A., and Sullivan, D., Clin. Res. (Abstr.), 17, 351 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Vyas, G. N., Perkins, H. A., and Fudenberg, H. H., Lancet, ii, 312 (1968).

  5. Vyas, G. N., Holmdahl, L., Perkins, H. A., and Fudenberg, H. H., Blood (in the press).

  6. Schmidt, A. P., Taswell, H. F., and Gleich, G. J., New Engl. J. Med., 280, 188 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Vyas, G. N., and Fudenberg, H. H., New Engl. J. Med., 280, 1073 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vyas, G. N., and Fudenberg, H. H., Clin. Res. (Abstr.), 17, 469 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tomasi, jun., T. B., and Bienenstock, J., Adv. Immunol, 9, 1 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Fudenberg, H. H., Kunkel, H. G., and Franklin, E. C., in Proc. Seventh Cong. Intern. Soc. Blood Transfusion (edit. by Holländer, L.), 522 (Karger. Basel, 1959).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

VYAS, G., LEVIN, A. & FUDENBERG, H. Intrauterine Isoimmunization caused by Maternal IgA crossing the Placenta. Nature 225, 275–276 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/225275a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/225275a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Navigation