Male microchimerism in healthy women and women with scleroderma: cells or circulating DNA? A quantitative answer

摘要: Male DNA, of presumed fetal origin, can be detected in the maternal circulation decades after delivery and is referred to as microchimerism (FM). We previously found quantitatively greater FM women with autoimmune disease scleroderma (SSc) than healthy women. However, it unknown whether this difference due intact circulating cells or free DNA released from breakdown disease-affected tissues. To distinguish origin FM, we developed a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for Y-chromosome-specific sequence DYS14, tested 114 peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMCs) and/or plasma. Fifty-seven controls 57 SSc patients were studied, 48 43 whom, respectively, had given birth at least one son. Circulating was PBMCs (n = 39; range, 0.0-12.5 male genome-equivalent per million cells), compared 0.0-4.4; P =.03). In contrast, there no between 25) 22) plasma, evidence DNA. enriched among T lymphocytes (P =.01) 14), but not 14); latter finding most likely immunosuppressive medications. conclusion, showed that differences are As uncommon women, including cells, because graft-versus-host has similarities SSc, these results also suggest merits investigation pheresis products used stem cell transplantation.