Horse trophoblasts produce tumor necrosis factor alpha but not interleukin 2, interleukin 4, or interferon gamma.
Abstract: The distribution of four cytokines was analyzed in the endometrium and trophoblast of the horse between Days 30 and 55 of gestation. Endometrial tissues, invasive trophoblast (chorionic girdle), and noninvasive trophoblast (chorion and allantochorion) were examined separately. Cytokine expression was determined by amplification of specific mRNA via the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Messenger RNA for interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and interferon gamma (IFN gamma) was detected in endometrial tissues, unstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, and control kidney tissue, but not in trophoblasts. leukocytes resident in the endometrium or traversing the uterus via blood vessels might be the source of these cytokines. Endometrial tissues and invasive and noninvasive trophoblasts expressed mRNA for tumor necrosis factor alpha TNF alpha). Immuonoreactive TNF alpha protein was detected in different cell types of the endometrium and in the invasive and noninvasive trophoblast. The ubiquitous expression of TNF alpha by the endometrium and trophoblasts suggests that this cytokine might have an important role in regulating placental growth and differentiation or maternal leukocyte responses to trophoblasts. IL-2, IL-4, and IFN gamma might have important immunoregulatory roles within the endometrium.
Publication Date: 1995-03-01 PubMed ID: 7538796DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod52.3.531Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research investigates the distribution and role of specific cytokines in the endometrium and trophoblast of pregnant horses between days 30 and 55 of gestation, finding that while certain cytokines were expressed in the endometrium, only tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) was expressed in trophoblasts, suggesting different immune responses in these areas.
Research Methodology
- The focus of the study was on the production and presence of four cytokines: interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4), interferon gamma (IFN gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha).
- These were observed in three areas of the pregnant mare: the endometrial tissues, the invasive trophoblasts (chorionic girdle), and the noninvasive trophoblasts (chorion and allantochorion).
- The researchers made use of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as a technique to identify specific mRNA that represented expressing these cytokines in the investigated tissues.
Research Findings
- The results showed that mRNA for IL-2, IL-4, and IFN gamma was present in the endometrial tissues, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and control kidney tissue. This presence suggests these cytokines might be being produced by leukocytes in the endometrium or in blood vessels traversing the uterus.
- However, mRNA for these three cytokines was not found in the trophoblasts, indicating they were not being produced there.
- Yet, the study found that mRNA for TNF alpha was present in both the endometrial tissues and trophoblasts (both invasive and noninvasive) alongside immunoreactive TNF alpha proteins.
- This prevalent presence of TNF alpha suggests that this cytokine could play a significant role in placental growth and differentiation, or in the mother’s leukocyte response to the trophoblasts.
Conclusions
- The researchers propose that IL-2, IL-4, and IFN gamma might have important immunoregulatory roles specifically in the endometrium, while TNF alpha could be central in regulating placental behavior or maternal immune responses within both the endometrium and trophoblasts.
- This difference in cytokine distribution hints at varied immune responses happening in different parts of the pregnant horse.
Cite This Article
APA
Grünig G, Antczak DF.
(1995).
Horse trophoblasts produce tumor necrosis factor alpha but not interleukin 2, interleukin 4, or interferon gamma.
Biol Reprod, 52(3), 531-539.
https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod52.3.531 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Culture Techniques
- Endometrium / cytology
- Endometrium / metabolism
- Female
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
- Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
- Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
- Kidney / metabolism
- Lymphocytes / metabolism
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Pregnancy
- RNA / isolation & purification
- RNA / metabolism
- RNA Probes
- RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
- RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism
- Trophoblasts / metabolism
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
Grant Funding
- HD-15799 / NICHD NIH HHS
- IT32AI07344-05 / NIAID NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Vegas AR, Podico G, Canisso IF, Bollwein H, Fröhlich T, Bauersachs S, Almiñana C. Dynamic regulation of the transcriptome and proteome of the equine embryo during maternal recognition of pregnancy.. FASEB Bioadv 2022 Dec;4(12):775-797.
- Murphy SP, Tayade C, Ashkar AA, Hatta K, Zhang J, Croy BA. Interferon gamma in successful pregnancies.. Biol Reprod 2009 May;80(5):848-59.
- Allen CA, Payne SL, Harville M, Cohen N, Russell KE. Validation of quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays for measuring cytokine expression in equine macrophages.. J Immunol Methods 2007 Dec 1;328(1-2):59-69.
- Basrur PK, Farazmand A, Stranzinger G, Graphodatskaya D, Reyes ER, King WA. Expression pattern of X-linked genes in sex chromosome aneuploid bovine cells.. Chromosome Res 2004;12(3):263-73.
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