Natural killer cells and type II interferon in Ro/SSA and La/SSB autoantibody-exposed newborns at risk of congenital heart block.

Margarita IvanchenkoGudny Ella ThorlaciusMalin HedlundVijole OttossonLauro MeneghelSophia BjörkanderAmina OssoinakJoanna TingströmKatarina BremmeEva Sverremark-EkströmKristina Gemzell-DanielssonSven-Erik SonessonKarine CheminMarie Wahren-Herlenius

Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases (2020)

Our study demonstrates an increased frequency of NK cells in anti-Ro/La exposed neonates, footprints of type I and II IFN and an upregulation of ligands activating NK cells in fetal cardiac cells after type I IFN exposure. These novel observations demonstrate innate immune activation in neonates of anti-Ro/La+pregnancy, which could contribute to the risk of CHB.

Keyphrases

nk cells
innate immune
natural killer cells
low birth weight
dendritic cells
induced apoptosis
signaling pathway
immune response
preterm birth
cell cycle arrest
left ventricular
cell proliferation
poor prognosis
gestational age
heart failure
endoplasmic reticulum stress
cord blood
cell death
pregnancy outcomes