Microchimeric Cell Tranfer From Mother to Child - Pilo Study

Identifying and Quantifying Microchimeric Maternal Cells in Young Males, Potentially Acquired Through Breastfeeding - A Pilot Study

Microchimeric cells are known to be transferred from mother to child through the placenta. However it has been postulated that they could also be transferred through breastfeeding.

This study is designed to analyse lymphoid and digestive tract tissues (tonsils and appendixes) in male infants (or young adults) to research microchimeric female cells and try to correlate the frequency and localisation of said cells to the breastfeeding status during early infancy

Inclusion criteria:

• age 1-16 years (at the time of surgery)
• male
• known breastfeeding status in infancy

Exclusion criteria:

• premature birth (before 37 weeks)
• history of blood transfusion
• history of bone marrow transplant
• history of organ transplant
• patient known to have a twin
• known gonosomal