Access through your institution Buy or subscribe We were fascinated by the Review article by Jeremy M. Kinder _et al_. (Immunological implications of pregnancy-induced microchimerism. _Nat.

Rev. Immunol._ 17, 483–494 (2017))1, which discusses the bidirectional exchange of maternal and fetal cells during pregnancy and the potential benefits and harmful effects of this

microchimerism. These cells may persist for a long time, and circulating maternal cells have been detected for up to 62 years in the offspring, resulting in the so-called maternal

microchimerism (MMc). It has been estimated that, due to MMc, up to 1 in 5,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells are of maternal origin2. In addition to pregnancy-related MMc, compelling

the early stages of lactation, at a time when breast milk cells are abundant and the infant's gut permeability is highest. The precise nature of the maternal cells present in breast

milk that are involved in microchimerism is presently unknown but may include stem cells and progenitor cells as well as mature immune cells. This is a preview of subscription content,

access via your institution RELEVANT ARTICLES Open Access articles citing this article. * TRANSGENERATIONAL TRANSFER OF GENE-MODIFIED T CELLS * Cormac Cosgrove * , Emilia R. Dellacecca *  … 

Hans E. N. Bergmans _Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer_ Open Access 15 July 2019 * STEM CELLS IN HUMAN BREAST MILK * Natalia Ninkina * , Michail S. Kukharsky *  … Vladimir L. Buchman

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* Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Kinder, J. M. et al.Immunological implications of pregnancy-induced microchimerism. _Nat.

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microchimeric maternal cells. _Cell_ 162, 505–515 (2015). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Jean-Pierre Molès and Anne-Sophie

Bedin are at Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, INSERM, EFS, Université de Montpellier, 34394 Montpellier, France., Jean-Pierre Molès & Anne-Sophie Bedin * Department of

Bacteriology-Virology and Department of Medical Information, Edouard Tuaillon, Nicolas Nagot and Philippe Van de Perre are at Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, INSERM, EFS,

Université de Montpellier, 34394 Montpellier, France; and at CHU Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France., Edouard Tuaillon, Nicolas Nagot & Philippe Van de Perre * Department of

Bacteriology-Virology and Department of Medical Information, and at CHU Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France., Edouard Tuaillon, Nicolas Nagot & Philippe Van de Perre * Department of

Paediatrics and Child Health, Chipepo Kankasa is at the University of Zambia, School of Medicine, University Teaching Hospital, 10101 Lusaka, Zambia., Chipepo Kankasa * Arnaud Marchant is at

the Institute for Medical Immunology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, B - 6041 CHARLEROI, Belgium., Arnaud Marchant * Joann M. McDermid is at Division of Infectious Diseases &

International Health, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA 22908., Joann M. McDermid Authors * Jean-Pierre Molès View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Edouard Tuaillon View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Chipepo

Kankasa View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Anne-Sophie Bedin View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google

Scholar * Nicolas Nagot View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Arnaud Marchant View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar * Joann M. McDermid View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Philippe Van de Perre View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS J.P.M., E.T. and P.VdP. participated in discussions and contributed to researching data related to this manuscript, and also the

writing, review and editing of this manuscript. C.K., A.S.B., N.N., A.M. and J.M.M. participated in related discussions and contributed to the writing, review and editing of this

manuscript. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Philippe Van de Perre. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS

Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Molès, JP., Tuaillon, E., Kankasa, C. _et al._ Breastfeeding-related maternal microchimerism. _Nat Rev Immunol_ 17, 729 (2017).

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