No association of FCRN promoter VNTR polymorphism with the rate of maternal–fetal IgG transfer

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) plays a critical role in maternal–fetal IgG transfer. Recently, a functionally active promoter polymorphism in the FCRN gene, represented by variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR), has been described. We analysed 103 single fetal samples and 103 paired maternal and fetal samples collected from umbilical cord blood of full-term neonates born from the 38th to the 41st week of pregnancy and detected no significant influence of maternal FCRN VNTR genotype on maternal IgG levels or of fetal FCRN VNTR genotype on fetal IgG levels or the fetal/maternal IgG ratio.