The ontogeny and turnover kinetics of paternal H-2K antigenic determinants on the allogeneic murine placenta
Raghupathy, R.; Singh, B.; Leigh, J.B.; Wegmann, T.G.
Journal of Immunology 127(5): 2074-2079
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 6170687 Document Number: 171161
In previous reports we provided evidence for the expression of paternal H-2Kk antigens on the placenta, accessible to maternal circulation. We have now examined the ontogeny of paternal H-2Kk antigens in the placenta from day 10 to day 17 of gestation and find a steady increase per gram placenta. In order to substantiate the proposal that the placenta functions as an immunoabsorbent barrier preventing the entry of anti-paternal antibodies to the fetus, we monitored the uptake of monoclonal anti-paternal H-2Kk antibody by target (antigen-bearing) and control fetuses and placentas at various intervals after injection. We have previously shown that F(ab')2 anti-H-2Kk behaves like intact immunoglobulin in placental immunoabsorption studies, and demonstrate here that the peak placental uptake of the antibody is not affected by the removal of the Fc portion, whereas its rate of clearance is increased. In contrast to the anti-H-2Kk antibody, monoclonal anti-I-Ak (specificity 17) antibody (IgG2a) shows no placental immunoabsorption.