INSERM UMRs 1097 Arthrites Autoimmunes, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
Marina El Haddad
INSERM UMRs 1097 Arthrites Autoimmunes, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
Xavier-Côme Donato
Department of obstetrics and gynecology, St Joseph Hospital, Marseille, France
Gabriel V. Martin
INSERM UMRs 1097 Arthrites Autoimmunes, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
Florence Bretelle
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Pôle Femme Enfant, AP-HM, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, AMU, Aix-Marseille Université, France
Nathalie Lesavre
CIC1409, AMU, AP-HM, Marseille, France
Jean-François Cocallemen
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Pôle Femme Enfant, AP-HM, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, AMU, Aix-Marseille Université, France
Marielle Martin
INSERM UMRs 1097 Arthrites Autoimmunes, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
Christophe Picard
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR7268 (ADES), “Biologie des Groupes Sanguin”, Marseille, France; Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS), Marseille, France
Tiffany Albentosa
INSERM UMRs 1097 Arthrites Autoimmunes, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
Jean Roudier
INSERM UMRs 1097 Arthrites Autoimmunes, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Sainte Marguerite, AP-HM, Marseille, France
Raoul Desbriere
Department of obstetrics and gynecology, St Joseph Hospital, Marseille, France
Abstracts: Background: During pregnancy a feto-maternal exchange of cells through the placenta conducts to maternal microchimerism (Mc) in the child and fetal Mc in the mother. Because of this bidirectional traffic of cells, pregnant women have also acquired maternal cells in utero from their mother and could transfer grandmaternal (GdM) cells to their child through the maternal bloodstream during pregnancy. Thus, cord blood (CB) samples could theoretically carry GdMMc. Nevertheless this has never been demonstrated. Methods: Using Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-specific quantitative PCR assays on three-generation families, we were able to test 28 CB samples from healthy primigravid women for GdMMc in whole blood (WB) and isolated cells (PBMC, T, B, granulocytes, stem cells). Findings: Five CB samples (18%) had GdMMc which could not be confounded with maternal source, with quantities 100 fold lower than maternal Mc in WB and PBMC. Risk of aneuploidies and/or related invasive prenatal procedures significantly correlated with the presence of GdMMc in CB (p=0.024). Significantly decreased HLA compatibility was observed in three-generation families from CB samples carrying GdMMc (p=0.019). Interpretation: Transgenerational transfer of cells could have implications in immunology and evolution. Further analyses will be necessary to evaluate whether GdMMc in CB is a passive or immunologically active transfer and whether invasive prenatal procedures could trigger GdMMc. Funding: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur APEX grant # 2012_06549E, 2012_11786F and 2014_03978) and the Foundation for Medical Research (FRM Grant #ING20140129045).