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
Corresponding Author
Catarina Martins
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Correspondence
Catarina Martins, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, Lisbon, Portugal.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorJorge Lima
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, CUF Descobertas Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorGlória Nunes
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorLuís Miguel Borrego
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Imunoalergologia, CUF Descobertas Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Catarina Martins
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Correspondence
Catarina Martins, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, Lisbon, Portugal.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorJorge Lima
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Ginecologia e Obstetrícia, CUF Descobertas Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorGlória Nunes
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorLuís Miguel Borrego
CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Immunology, NOVA Medical School|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Imunoalergologia, CUF Descobertas Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
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.
Supporting Information
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