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Vertically transferred maternal immune cells promote neonatal immunity against early life infections

Author

Listed:
  • Ina Annelies Stelzer

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg
    Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto)

  • Christopher Urbschat

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg)

  • Steven Schepanski

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg
    Developmental Neurophysiology, Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Kristin Thiele

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg)

  • Ioanna Triviai

    (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Agnes Wieczorek

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg)

  • Malik Alawi

    (Bioinformatics Core, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Denise Ohnezeit

    (Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Julian Kottlau

    (Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Jiabin Huang

    (Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Nicole Fischer

    (Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Hans-Willi Mittrücker

    (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Maria Emilia Solano

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg)

  • Boris Fehse

    (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Anke Diemert

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg)

  • Felix R. Stahl

    (Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Petra Clara Arck

    (Division of Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg)

Abstract

During mammalian pregnancy, immune cells are vertically transferred from mother to fetus. The functional role of these maternal microchimeric cells (MMc) in the offspring is mostly unknown. Here we show a mouse model in which MMc numbers are either normal or low, which enables functional assessment of MMc. We report a functional role of MMc in promoting fetal immune development. MMc induces preferential differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells in fetal bone marrow towards monocytes within the myeloid compartment. Neonatal mice with higher numbers of MMc and monocytes show enhanced resilience against cytomegalovirus infection. Similarly, higher numbers of MMc in human cord blood are linked to a lower number of respiratory infections during the first year of life. Our data highlight the importance of MMc in promoting fetal immune development, potentially averting the threats caused by early life exposure to pathogens.

Suggested Citation

  • Ina Annelies Stelzer & Christopher Urbschat & Steven Schepanski & Kristin Thiele & Ioanna Triviai & Agnes Wieczorek & Malik Alawi & Denise Ohnezeit & Julian Kottlau & Jiabin Huang & Nicole Fischer & H, 2021. "Vertically transferred maternal immune cells promote neonatal immunity against early life infections," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24719-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24719-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Steven Schepanski & Mattia Chini & Veronika Sternemann & Christopher Urbschat & Kristin Thiele & Ting Sun & Yu Zhao & Mareike Poburski & Anna Woestemeier & Marie-Theres Thieme & Dimitra E. Zazara & Ma, 2022. "Pregnancy-induced maternal microchimerism shapes neurodevelopment and behavior in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.

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