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Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins: evolution, expression, functions and disease associations.
Abstract: Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs) are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily and are closely related to the predominantly membrane-bound CEACAM proteins. PSGs are produced by placental trophoblasts and secreted into the maternal bloodstream at high levels where they may regulate maternal immune and vascular functions through receptor binding and modulation of cytokine and chemokine expression and activity. PSGs may have autocrine and paracrine functions in the placental bed, and PSGs can activate soluble and extracellular matrix bound TGF-β, with potentially diverse effects on multiple cell types. PSGs are also found at high levels in the maternal circulation, at least in human, where they may have endocrine functions. In a non-reproductive context, PSGs are expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and their deregulation may be associated with colorectal cancer and other diseases. Like many placental hormones, PSGs are encoded by multigene families and they have an unusual phylogenetic distribution, being found predominantly in species with hemochorial placentation, with the notable exception of the horse in which PSG-like proteins are expressed in the endometrial cups of the epitheliochorial placenta. The evolution and expansion of PSG gene families appear to be a highly active process, with significant changes in gene numbers and protein domain structures in different mammalian lineages and reports of extensive copy number variation at the human locus. Against this apparent diversification, the available evidence indicates extensive conservation of PSG functions in multiple species. These observations are consistent with maternal-fetal conflict underpinning the evolution of PSGs.
Publication Date: 2022-02-01 PubMed ID: 35007205DOI: 10.1530/REP-21-0390Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review
Summary
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The paper examines the role, evolution, expression, and potential diseases associated with Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs), which are vital for maternal immune and vascular function regulation during pregnancy. They are produced mainly in the placenta and found in species with hemochorial placentation, and their deregulation may lead to diseases such as colorectal cancer.
PSGs Role and Function
- The researchers found that the Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PSGs) can regulate maternal immune and vascular functions. They get produced by placental trophoblasts and then secreted into the maternal bloodstream at high levels to aid in these regulations.
- PSGs interact with receptors to modulate the expression and activity of cytokines and chemokines. It may also have autocrine and paracrine functions in the placental bed.
- Additionally, they can activate the soluble and extracellular matrix-bound Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β), affecting several cell types. High levels of PSGs can be found in the maternal circulation in humans, where they may serve as endocrine functions.
PSGs Expression in Non-Reproductive Context
- Beyond reproduction, PSGs are also exhibited in the gastrointestinal tract. Interestingly, the lack of control of these proteins may be related with colorectal cancer and other diseases.
PSGs Presence in Different Species
- PSGs appear mostly in species that exhibit hemochorial placentation, such as humans. However, there’s an exception with horses where PSG-like proteins are expressed in the endometrial cups of the epitheliochorial placenta.
Evolution and Expansion of PSGs
- The PSG gene families’ evolution and expansion seem to be highly active, with noted significant changes in gene numbers and protein domain structures in different mammalian lineages. There are also reports of extensive copy number variation at the human locus in these genes.
- Despite this diversification, the current evidence suggests that there’s conservation of PSG functions across multiple species. This could suggest maternal-fetal conflict is a driving force in the evolution of these essential proteins.
Cite This Article
APA
Moore T, Williams JM, Becerra-Rodriguez MA, Dunne M, Kammerer R, Dveksler G.
(2022).
Pregnancy-specific glycoproteins: evolution, expression, functions and disease associations.
Reproduction, 163(2), R11-R23.
https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-21-0390 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
- Uniformed Services University of the Heath Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- DNA Copy Number Variations
- Female
- Glycoproteins / metabolism
- Horses
- Mammals / metabolism
- Phylogeny
- Placenta / metabolism
- Placentation
- Pregnancy
- Trophoblasts / metabolism
Citations
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