NEUTROPHIL AND MONOCYTE BETA(2)-INTEGRIN EXPRESSION IN MATERNAL AND FETAL BLOOD

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate fetal and maternal leukocyte beta(2)-integrin expression throughout pregnancy. STUDY DES IGN: In a cross-sectional study of 173 fetuses at 18 to 40 weeks' gest ation, 114 women with normal singleton pregnancies at 6 to 40 weeks, a nd 25 adult volunteers, flow cytometry was used to determine neutrophi l and monocyte expression of beta(2)-integrins. RESULTS: The surface d ensity of beta(2)-integrins on fetal neutrophils and monocytes increas ed significantly with gestation, except for the expression of fetal mo nocyte CD11b, which did not change. There were no significant changes in maternal beta(2)-integrin expression with gestation. During the thi rd trimester fetal expression of CD18, CD11b, and CD11c on neutrophils and CD11b on monocytes was lower, and maternal expression of CD11a on neutrophils and CD18, CD11a and CD11c on monocytes was higher than we re the control adult values. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that pregnancy is associated with changes in the expression of maternal bet a(2)-integrins and illustrate the pattern of immunophenotypic maturati on of fetal beta(2)-integrins on neutrophils and monocytes.