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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
Author(s) -
Martins Catarina,
Lima Jorge,
Nunes Glória,
Borrego Luís Miguel
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12595
Subject(s) - immunology , atopy , asthma , pregnancy , allergy , medicine , immunoglobulin e , b cell , antibody , biology , genetics
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 CD 19, CD 27, CD 38, 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.