Maternal microchimerism (MMc) is acquired by an infant during pregnancy and these cells are maintained in some individuals for decades. Encountering maternal antigens during pregnancy represents the first immunological challenge for the fetus although maternal cells are protected from detection by induction of suppressive fetal regulatory T cells.

In type 1 diabetes increased levels of maternal microchimerism have been demonstrated in peripheral blood DNA and maternal cells have been identified in human pancreas. The aim of this study is to phenotype these maternal cells in well characterised male pancreases in order to help understand how the presence of maternal cells could contribute to risk of T1D. The methodology used will utilise using X/Y chromosome FISH with concomitant immunofluorescence. Once the phenotype is established, we will attempt to confirm the maternal origin using single cell laser capture with DNA profiling.