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. 2013 Dec 30;9(6):1102-6.
doi: 10.5114/aoms.2013.39212. Epub 2013 Nov 29.

Microchimerism in twins

Małgorzata Waszak  1 , Krystyna Cieślik  1 , Karolina Wielgus  2 , Ryszard Słomski  3 , Marlena Szalata  3 , Marzena Skrzypczak-Zielińska  3 , Joanna Kempiak  4 , Grzegorz Bręborowicz  4
Affiliations

Microchimerism in twins

Małgorzata Waszak et al. Arch Med Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this paper was to report the occurrence of peripheral blood chimerism in newborns from bigeminal pregnancies.

Material and methods: Cord blood collected from 50 pairs of twins constituted the biological material studied. Analyses included: DNA isolation, quantitative and qualitative assessment of DNA preparations, hybridization analysis of SLS type as well as of MLS type, and analysis of microsatellite sequences with regard to polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The presence of additional fragments of DNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes was found in four out of fifty pairs of monozygotic twins (8%) at locus D7S21 (7p22, n = 3) and locus D12S11 (12q24.3, n = 1). In these cases, the presence of additional DNA fragments was also proved by analysis of microsatellite sequence polymorphisms at loci HUMPLA2A1 (pancreatic phospholipase A-2, 12q23), HUMCYARO (cytochrome P450, 15q21.1) and HUMvWF (von Willebrand factor, 12p13).

Conclusions: The results of our study confirm the occurrence of chimerism in twins and constitutes the starting point for further studies aimed at determining the clinical significance of chimerism in twins both for women and fetuses.

Keywords: chimerism; mosaicism; zygosity of twins.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Demonstration of the alleged chimerism in monozygotic twins through hybridisation by means of: (A) molecular probe MS31 and (B) molecular probe MS43A. A – Monozygotic twins are characterized by the presence of identical DNA fragments. In the case of homozygosity, one DNA fragment is visible, whereas in the case of heterozygosity, two fragments are visible. Gel 1, twins from pair 57/58: three DNA fragments are visible in both babies. Gel 2, twins from pair 79/80: three DNA fragments are visible in both babies. Gel 3, twins from pair 91/92: four DNA fragments are visible in both babies. B – Results of analysis in twins from pair 35/36. Three DNA fragments are visible in baby No. 36
Figure 2
Figure 2
Demonstration of the alleged chimerism in monozygotic twins through the analysis of polymorphism of microsatellite sequences HUMPLA2A1 and HUMCYARO. On the left side of the figure, the fragments corresponding to locus HUMPLA2A1 are visible, whereas in the central part there is locus HUMCYARO. Each sample contains internal patterns with a size of 113 and 268 bp. Track 1, twin 79; track 2, twin 80; tracks 3-4, control DNA – monozygotic twins, which are heterozygotes in locus HUMPLA2A1 and homozygotes in locus HUMCYARO. In twins from pair 79/80, three alleles in locus HUMPLA2A1 and HUMCYARO are visible
Figure 3
Figure 3
Demonstration of the alleged chimerism in monozygotic twins through the analysis of polymorphism of microsatellite sequence HUMPLA2A1. Alleles varying by three nucleotides were identified by determination of the size of fragments and their comparison with the allele ladder. Each sample contains internal patterns with a size of 113 and 268 bp. Track 15, twin 91; track 16, twin 92. In both twins, three alleles in locus HUMPLA2A1 are visible
Figure 4
Figure 4
Demonstration of the alleged chimerism in monozygotic twins through the analysis of polymorphism of microsatellite sequence HUMvWF. Alleles varying by four nucleotides were identified by determination of the size of fragments and their comparison with the allele ladder. Each sample contains internal patterns with a size of 113 and 268 bp. Track 15, twin 91; track 16, twin 92. In both twins, four alleles in locus HUMvWF are visible
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