Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 9, No. 4, 227-235,
April 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Article |
Characterization of first trimester fetal erythroblasts for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis
Submitted on October 21, 2002; resubmitted on December 18, 2002. accepted on December 30, 2002
Wolfson and Weston Research Centre for Family Health, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Division of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College London, Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Division of Fetal and Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Level 2, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074. e-mail: obgmac{at}nus.edu.sg
Isolating fetal erythroblasts from first trimester maternal blood offers a promising non-invasive alternative for prenatal diagnosis. The aim of this study was to characterize the biological properties of first trimester primitive erythroblasts to facilitate their enrichment from first trimester maternal blood. Primitive erythroblasts were the predominant cell type until 12 weeks gestation, after which time their numbers declined steeply; 100% were 
-globin-positive versus <0.06% definitive erythroblasts. Buoyant densities of first trimester fetal erythroblasts ranged from 1.077 to 1.130 g/ml, and optimal recoveries were obtained with Percoll 1118. Although primitive erythroblasts carried a negative surface charge and were resistant to NH4Cl lysis, these properties had only a limited role in fetal cell enrichment. Immunophenotyping showed that primitive, like definitive, erythroblasts were GPA+, CD47+, CD45– and CD35–, whereas CD71 expression was weak/undetectable on primitive erythroblasts but strongly positive on 100% of definitive erythroblasts; primitive erythroblasts were also CD36– whereas definitive erythroblasts were CD36+. We therefore used CD45/GPA selection of Percoll 1118-separated cells to demonstrate successful enrichment of male -globin-positive fetal erythroblasts from model mixtures, and as proof of principle from some first trimester maternal blood samples. Fetal cell enrichment protocols based on first trimester -globin-positive primitive erythroblasts may allow reliable enrichment of fetal cells from maternal blood for early non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders.
Key words: -globin/erythroblasts/fetal cells/maternal blood/prenatal diagnosis
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. O'Donoghue, M. Choolani, J. Chan, J. de la Fuente, S. Kumar, C. Campagnoli, P.R. Bennett, I.A.G. Roberts, and N.M. Fisk Identification of fetal mesenchymal stem cells in maternal blood: implications for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis Mol. Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2003; 9(8): 497 - 502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|