Anti‐La/SSB antibodies transported across the placenta bind apoptotic cells in fetal organs targeted in neonatal lupus

Abstract

This is the first study to demonstrate that transplacental anti-La autoantibodies bind specifically to apoptotic cells in selected fetal organs in vivo, similar to the organ involvement in NLS. We hypothesize that additional factors are required to promote proinflammatory clearance of IgG-apoptotic cell complexes and subsequent tissue damage.