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Regular Article |
a Department of Animal Development and Genetics, Uppsala University, SE-75236 Uppsala, Sweden
b Section of Medical Inflammation Research, Lund University, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden
c Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
d Genome Information Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
ABSTRACT
It is well known that the transfer of immunoglobulins (Igs) from mother to young via milk contributes to the offspring's immune defense. The present study suggests that not only is IgG transmitted to progeny, but that functional maternal Ig-secreting cells (or B cells) can also be transferred to the neonate. We have used B cell-deficient (µ-/-) mice and found that a high proportion of them obtain long-lasting, partial reconstitution of their serum Ig levels if born to µ+/- mothers. In some of these serum IgG-positive µ-/- mice, Ig-secreting cells were detected in spleen and bone marrow. To ensure that cells of maternal origin were present in the progeny, µ-/- offspring born to µ+/- dams transgenic for green fluorescent protein (GFP) were used. In spleens and bone marrow from some of these µ-/-GFP-/- offspring, GFP-positive cells were detected, which demonstrated that cells of maternal origin could infiltrate the progeny. In addition, splenic Ig-secreting cells were detected in µ-/- mice that were born to µ-/- dams and transferred to a lactating µ+/+ foster dam at birth. This indicates that maternal Ig-secreting cells can be transferred postnatally via milk.
1 This work was supported by King Gustaf V's 80-yr foundation, Alfred Östlund's, Helge Ax:son Johnson's, Hierta Retzius’, Lennander's, Magnus Bergvall's, G. & J. Kocks’, and Von Hofsten's Foundations, as well as by the Swedish Medical Research Council.
2 Correspondence: Marie Arvola, Dept. of Animal Development and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Norbyvägen 18A, S-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden. FAX: 46 18 4712683; marie.arvola{at}devbiol.uu.se
3 Current address: Section of Experimental Pathology, Lund University Hospital, SE-22362 Lund, Sweden.
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