Maternal Determinants of Neonatal Immune Response: Effect of Anti-Idiotype in the Neonate

Abstract

The influence of maternal immunologic reactivity on the development of the immunologic repertoire in the neonate has been examined in a number of recent studies employing different antigens in a variety of mammalian species^1,2. Studies carried out by Jarrett and Ha11³ in rats have shown that maternal immunization with ovalbumin (OVA) administered parenterally prior to mating is associated with significant suppression of IgE and enhancement of IgG anti-OVA response in the neonate following neonatal immunization. Significant suppression of neonatal immune response has also been observed after oral immunization of pregnant rabbits with bovine serum albumin⁴. Other studies have suggested a potential for enhanced neonatal immune response after prior maternal immunization⁵. The mechanisms underlying the maternally induced alterations in neonatal immune response remain to be determined. The relative contribution of transplacentally-acquired or breastfeeding-related maternal components in such effects is not known. The present studies were undertaken in order to characterize the nature of neonatal immune response to antigens and to evaluate the role of breastfeeding in such maternal-neonatal interactions.