Cytomegalovirus-Specific Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in Human Pregnancy

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific humoral and cellular immunity was evaluated prospectively during and after 19 normal human pregnancies. Seropositive pregnant subjects had lymphocyte proliferative responses to purified CMV antigen that were markedly depressed by the end of the third trimester of pregn...

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Published inThe Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 143; no. 3; pp. 391 - 395
Main Authors Gehrz, R. C., Christianson, W. R., Linner, K. M., Conroy, M. M., McCue, S. A., Balfour, H. H.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States The University of Chicago Press 01.03.1981
University of Chicago Press
Subjects
Antibodies
Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis
Antigens
Cell mediated immunity
Cellular immunity
Clinical Investigation
Cytomegalovirus
Cytomegalovirus - immunology
Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology
Excretion
Female
Humans
Immunity, Cellular
Infections
Leukocyte Count
Lymphocyte Activation
Lymphocytes
Pregnancy
T lymphocytes
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Summary:Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific humoral and cellular immunity was evaluated prospectively during and after 19 normal human pregnancies. Seropositive pregnant subjects had lymphocyte proliferative responses to purified CMV antigen that were markedly depressed by the end of the third trimester of pregnancy despite persistent levels of complement-fixing and immunofluorescent antibodies to CMV. These reduced lymphocyte proliferative responses returned to levels detected early in pregnancy by one year after delivery. None of the subjects excreted CMV during the study period. General parameters of cellular immunity, including thymus derived-cell counts as determined by formation of erythrocyte rosettes and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, were unaffected. Reactivation of latent CMV during pregnancy might be related to transient depression of CMV-specific cellular immunity.
Bibliography:istex:911F9940E09292CCF8EAEE671018F1E8A2FA3C77
Please address requests for reprints to Dr. Richard C. Gehrz, Children's Hospital, 345 North Smith Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102.
ark:/67375/HXZ-722Q2KJZ-K
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/143.3.391