Reconstitution of humoral immunity during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to hormonal regulations of the immune system.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In this study, cord sera and the corresponding maternal sera were obtained at delivery. Sera from pregnant women were obtained at early, middle, and late stages of pregnancy. These sera were tested for titer and avidity of measles or mumps virus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) by means of a single-dilution, urea-denaturation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

RESULTS

A positive and significant correlation was found between the titer and avidity of the virus-specific IgG, both in the cord sera and in the maternal sera. This correlation was established already at the early stage of pregnancy. There were no such correlations found in nonpregnant individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first observation in human subjects that the avidity and concentration of the virus-specific IgG had a positive and significant correlation. Pregnancy must have some significant effects on the regulation of humoral immunity.