Abstract
Cells cultured from amniotic fluid (AF) specimens obtained at 15-18 weeks of gestation for antenatal detection of chromosomal abnormalities have been typed for HL-A antigens by the fluorochromasia microcytotoxicity test. Fibroblasts growing in four AF cultures were tested for 31 antigens with 100 antisera. In each culture, one maternal and one paternal haplotype was detected on AF fibroblasts, indicating that these are of fetal origin. The HL-A phenotype of the cells dividing in AF culture is stable as shown by concordance of antigenic specificities of the same culture tested at different tissue culture generations. In one of the four cultures, specificities determined by both maternal haplotypes were detected. This finding might indicate contamination of the AF culture with maternal cells, but relatively weak serological reactions and the extra specificity involved suggest that cross reaction is the more likely explanation.
HL-A typing can clearly demonstrate the fetal origin of cells dividing in AF culture, a useful observation when there is concern about contamination by maternal cells. Determination of the fetal HL-A phenotype provides a potential method for antenatal detection of an autosomal dominant disorder by syntenic relationships. This method will be realized when loci of genes determining such disorders are found to be closely linked to the HL-A region.
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Cann, H., Radvany, R. & Payne, R. HL-A PHENOTYPE OF THE FETUS DETECTED ON CULTURED AMNIOTIC FLUID CELLS. Pediatr Res 8, 388 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00286
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00286