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- Title
Pregnancy alters the circulating B cell compartment in atopic asthmatic women, and transitional B cells are positively associated with the development of allergy manifestations in their progeny.
- Authors
Martins, Catarina; Lima, Jorge; Nunes, Glória; Borrego, Luís Miguel
- Abstract
Problem Maternal atopy is a risk factor for allergy. B cells are poorly studied in reproduction and atopy. We aimed to assess how pregnancy affects B cells in atopic women and whether B cells relate to allergic manifestations in offspring. Method of study Women with and without atopic asthma, pregnant and non-pregnant were enrolled for the study, and circulating B cells were evaluated by flow cytometry, using CD19, CD27, CD38, IgD, and IgM. Results Compared to healthy non-pregnant, atopic asthmatic non-pregnant ( ANP) women presented increased B cell counts, enlarged memory subsets, less transitional cells, and plasmablasts. Atopic asthmatic pregnant ( AP) and healthy pregnant ( HP) women showed similarities: reduced B cell counts and percentages, fewer memory cells, especially switched, and higher plasmablast percentages. Transitional B cell percentages were increased in AP women with allergic manifestations in their progeny. Conclusion Atopic asthmatic non-pregnant women have a distinctive B cell compartment. B cells change in pregnancy, similarly in AP and HP women. The recognition that AP women with allergy in their progeny have a typical immune profile may help, in the future, the adoption of preventive measures to avoid the manifestation of allergic diseases in their newborns.
- Subjects
ALLERGY in children; ATOPY; ASTHMATICS; PREGNANT women; B cells
- Publication
American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2016, Vol 76, Issue 6, p465
- ISSN
1046-7408
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/aji.12595