Objectives
The antibody immunoglobulin D (IgD) is evolutionarily conserved throughout the 500 million years of vertebrate evolution1, but its function has long been mysterious since its discovery over 50 years ago. We previously found that IgD is produced by plasmablasts in the upper respiratory mucosa and secreted IgD contributes to immune defense by reacting with respiratory bacteria and by activating the anti-microbial and immune-amplifying functions of basophils2. The goal of this study is to determine the induction and placental transfer of maternal vaccine-induced immunoglobulin D (IgD) and its function in the protection of neonates against respiratory infection.
Methods
The cytotrophoblast cell line BeWo cultured in transwells was used to determine the transcytosis of IgD. Pregnant Balb/c mice immunized with a Tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine were used to determine maternal-to-fetal transfer of IgD across the placenta in pregnancy. ELISA was used to quantitate vaccine-specific IgD in culture media as well as in maternal and fetal circulation.
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