Immunological tolerance in an HLA non-identical chimeric twin

Hum Immunol. 2000 Mar;61(3):190-2. doi: 10.1016/s0198-8859(99)00183-4.

Abstract

Blood group chimeric twins offer a unique opportunity to study immunological tolerance in humans. Although this condition is not as rare as previously considered, detailed immunological studies of blood group chimeras are lacking. We describe here a case of secondary chimerism in a dizygotic twin of opposite gender. The karyotypes of the cultured fibroblast confirmed the sex of each twin, all cells in the boy were 46, XY and all cells in the girl were 46, XX. Molecular HLA typing on fibroblasts revealed HLA-DR, DQ and DP disparities between the two siblings. Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) revealed a mutual absence of alloreactivity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chimera / immunology*
  • Female
  • HLA Antigens / immunology*
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Twins, Dizygotic*

Substances

  • HLA Antigens