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In order to discover whether changes in the nature of the humoral response to type II collagen occur during pregnancy we compared, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the anti-type II collagen antibody titres and isotype profiles of pregnant and virgin DBA/1 mice immunized with type II collagen. Significant reductions in the mean clinical scores and anti-collagen antibody titres were observed during late pregnancy. Titres of all of the anti-collagen isotypes tended to be lower in pregnant than non-pregnant mice, although only in the case of IgG3 was there a significant difference between the two groups. We conclude that while pregnancy may cause changes to the isotype distribution of anti-collagen antibodies it is not possible on the basis of this study to relate such changes to the remission of arthritis observed during pregnancy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/0165-0378(89)90014-4

Type

Journal article

Journal

J reprod immunol

Publication Date

07/1989

Volume

15

Pages

229 - 239

Keywords

Animals, Arthritis, Collagen, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Immunization, Immunoglobulin Isotypes, Mice, Mice, Inbred DBA, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications