Table 3.

IgE scores and number of mature ɛ transcript producing cells in placental biopsies

	IgE+ cells *
Group	+	+ +	+ + +	ɛ transcript+ cells ‡ (n)
Atopic	7†	19†	24†	5§
Non-atopic	5†	16†	15†	6§

^*A semiquantitative scale (+ = few positive cells, + + = moderate, and + + + = many positive cells) was used for the evaluation of the IgE staining with immunohistochemistry.

^†Number of placentae within each group.

^‡Cells producing mature ɛ transcripts as analysed with in situ hybridization.

^§Values are expressed as a median number of positive cells detected in the maternal part of the placenta (duplicate sections from biopsies of 3 atopic and 2 non-atopic mothers, selected on the basis of having many IgE⁺ cells in the chorionic villi region) with the antisense probe. Positive cells detected with the sense probe are subtracted.