A major role of class I Fc gamma receptors in immunoglobulin G anti-D-mediated red blood cell destruction by fetal mononuclear phagocytes.

OBJECTIVE

To examine Fc gamma receptor (Fc gamma R) classes that direct immunoglobulin (Ig) G anti-D-mediated red blood cell interaction with fetal mononuclear phagocytes.

METHODS

Mononuclear phagocytes isolated from fetal blood and spleen at 20-35 and 12-15 weeks' gestation, respectively, were tested in a modified mononuclear phagocytosis assay against IgG anti-D-coated red blood cells in the absence and presence of Fc gamma R class-specific monoclonal antibodies as inhibitors. Monocytes from cord and adult blood served as controls.

RESULTS

In the absence of any inhibitor, attachment and phagocytosis indices of fetal monocytes were similar to those of their newborn and adult counterparts but markedly less than those of mononuclear phagocytes from fetal spleen. Blockade of the high-affinity Fc gamma RI caused a profound (more than 93%) reduction in red blood cell attachment and phagocytosis indices of fetal as well as newborn and adult monocytes. It also brought about a marked decrease in the attachment and phagocytosis indices of mononuclear phagocytes from fetal spleens (64 and 81%, respectively). With fetal spleen mononuclear phagocytes, anti-Fc gamma RII lacked any significant effect on their interaction with red blood cells, whereas anti-Fc gamma RIII caused a significant (43%) inhibition of their phagocytosis.

CONCLUSION

Immunoglobulin G anti-D-mediated attachment to and phagocytosis by fetal mononuclear phagocytes of red blood cells is well developed early during the second trimester. High-affinity Fc gamma RI plays a major role in the effector function of circulating monocytes and splenic mononuclear phagocytes, whereas Fc gamma RIII, expressed strongly on the latter effectors, participates in target ingestion.