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

Two hundred and eight pregnancy sera were tested for the presence of antibodies specific for lymphocyte sub-populations by using the isolated B and T 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 sixty-three sera (30.2%) reacted with both B and T lymphocytes; none of the sera was specific for T cells. Several sera, reacting with both B and T lymphocytes, were absorbed with platelets and this procedure revealed nine additional antiseraa specific for B lymphocyte antigens. Specificity studies on a panel of forty-eight HLA-ABCD typed individuals indicated that most antisera possibly defined new B-cell antigens. Family studies established that the antigens defined by these antiser were coded for by genes in the Major Histocompatibility Complex.