MICROCHIMERISM AND THE CAUSATION OF SCLERODERMA

The application of molecular techniques to the study of human pregnanc y has resulted in the recognition that there is bidirectional cell tra ffic during pregnancy. Recent studies indicate fetal progenitor cells can persist in the maternal peripheral blood for decades after childbi rth. Scleroderma is increased in women, has a peak incidence following childbearing years, and has clinical similarities to chronic graft-ve rsus-host disease that occurs after allogeneic stem cell transplantati on. This paper explores the idea that microchimerism is involved in sc leroderma and considers insights gained from transplantation biology i n seeking to understand how microchimerism might contribute to the pat hogenesis of scleroderma. Chimerism means that a body contains cell po pulations derived from different indivduals and microchimerism low lev els of chimerism. Although highlighted in the study of scleroderma, mi crochimerism is also implicated in selected other autoimmune disorders .