Re: Immuno Digest, Vol 40, Issue 2

[Chris Hall]

That seems unlikely given that throughout late fetal gestation, antibodies
are being passed from mother to fetus, not to mention post-partum transfer
through colostrum. The potential for a damaging host vs. graft reaction
through immune complex formation would be of concern in removal were through
acquired immune mechanisms.
Maybe they had in mind innate phagocytosis?
I'll be interested in hearing other opinions.

> From: <immuno-...@oat.bio.indiana.edu>
> Reply-To: <imm...@oat.bio.indiana.edu>
> Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:03:48 -0500 (EST)
> To: <imm...@magpie.bio.indiana.edu>
> Subject: Immuno Digest, Vol 40, Issue 2
>
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> Today's Topics:
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> 1. What causes maternal antibodies to break down in a newborn?
> (Alan Bradbury)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:36:26 -0000
> From: "Alan Bradbury" <abra...@taptonschool.co.uk>
> Subject: [Immunology] What causes maternal antibodies to break down in
> a newborn?
> To: <imm...@magpie.bio.indiana.edu>
> Message-ID: <A7F1BA1B07FDD941802...@extap.tapton.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I hope somebody can help with this.
>
> A recent exam question for A level (16-18 year olds) in the UK had a question
> asking why passive immunity in newborns is short lived. The answer expected
> was that a newborn will recognise the maternal antibodies as foreign and have
> an immune response to them. This just didn't sound right to me. I have tried
> to do some internet research on the question and it seems that the half-life
> of maternal antibodies is about 30 - 45 days. But I have not been able to find
> out what causes the removal of the maternal antibodies. I had assumed that it
> was just due to the natural turnover and breakdown of the antibodies that the
> infant might receive from its mother.
>
> Am I right, or is the exam answer right?
>
> Alan Bradbury (A level Biology teacher, UK).
>
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> End of Immuno Digest, Vol 40, Issue 2
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