The functional significance of plasma HLA class I antigens is unclear.
They are thought to have an immunomodulatory role and be tolerogenic
in transplant settings including the materno-fetal semi-allograft. The
re is, however, no available data on the concentrations of soluble HLA
class I antigens in fetuses or newborns. We therefore determined plas
ma HLA class I antigen levels in 93 neonates born at different gestati
onal ages and compared them to those in 66 healthy adults. The mean pl
asma HLA concentration in cord blood obtained from these neonates (0.3
0+/-0.15 mug/ml, mean+/-SD) was significantly lower (p<0.0001) than in
the adults (0.77+/-0.44 mug/ml). No correlation between the plasma HL
A levels and the gestational ages of the neonates was detected. Charac
terizing the plasma HLA class I antigens by immunoprecipitation and im
munoblotting, four different molecular weight forms, 44, 39, 36 and 34
kDa, were recognized. Their distribution in neonates was not differen
t from that in adults. Since the circulating leukocytes are a probable
source of plasma HLA class I antigens, we measured the surface HLA ex
pression on leukocytes in 4 neonates and 4 adults by immunofluorescent
flow cytometry. The fluorescence intensities on neonatal granylocytes
and lymphocytes were 50% of those on corresponding adult cells. This
finding suggests that the reduced HLA expression by neonatal leukocyte
s may be partially responsible for the lower concentration of HLA clas
s I antigens in neonatal plasma.