Transplacental antibody transfer: mechanisms, pregnancy-related disruptions, and emerging experimental models
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The transplacental transfer of maternal immunoglobulin G from the mother to the foetus is central for providing immunity in early life, resulting in full-term newborns having IgG repertoires and levels similar to those of their mothers. The neonatal Fc receptor is recognised as the primary transporter of IgGs across the placental epithelium. Understanding the mechanisms of transplacental antibody transfer and factors that affect them is essential in optimising maternal vaccination strategies, ultimately protecting infants from various environmental pathogens. This review first outlines the biological mechanisms governing transplacental IgG transfer, followed by a discussion of how this process may be disrupted by physiological and pathological conditions during pregnancy, including preterm birth, hypergammaglobulinemia, maternal pathogenic IgG, maternal infections, hyperglycaemia, and exposure to biological therapies. We also summarise currently available models used to study transplacental IgG transfer, highlighting existing knowledge gaps and future directions for research in this field.
Date Issued
2026-02-06
Date Acceptance
2026-02-03
Citation
Antibodies, 2026, 15
ISSN
2073-4468
Publisher
MDPI AG
Journal / Book Title
Antibodies
Volume
15
Copyright Statement
© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
14
Date Publish Online
2026-02-06