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Immunoendocrine Functions of Trophoblast Interferons (IFN-τ or TP-1 or Trophoblastins) in the Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy

  • Chapter
Endocrinology of Embryo-Endometrium Interactions

Part of the book series: Reproductive Biology ((RBIO))

Abstract

It has been recently shown in ruminants that interferons are constitutively produced by the trophoblast during the critical peri-implantation period. Ruminant trophoblast IFN gene sequences provide evidence that these IFNs recently called IFN-τ constitute a distinct family of other interferons of type I (α, β, ω). Embryonic IFNs are not confined in ruminants but have been found in other species though their structural characteristics can be different. In culture of ovine endometrial cells, ovine Trophoblast Protein (oTP) is able to inhibit the biosynthesis of prostaglandin F2α, even when stimulated by oxytocin. In vivo, recombinant oTP (r.oTP) inhibits the cyclic luteolysis of recipient ewes for 1 month or more as do trophoblast homogenates or trophoblastic vesicles and better than bovine recombinant IFNα. Furthermore, r.oTP is able to block the cyclic PGF2α pulsatility thus showing the key role played by the ruminant trophoblastins in the mechanisms of maternal recognition of pregnancy. Besides displaying a paracrine antiluteolytic function, r.oTP exhibits immunoregulatory activities similar to the natural oTP isoforms. It blocks phytohemagglutinin A (PHA) driven lymphocyte proliferation on murine, human and ovine lymphocytes. oTP is acting especially on human, murine and ovine CD4 T cells (helper lymphocytes). It does not block in mice interleukin-2 dependent cell proliferation when assayed on CTL-L2 cell line (CD+ 8) but inhibits in sheep PHA driven CD8 T lymphocyte proliferation. oTP and r.oTP were found to be immunosuppressive on a murine and a human Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction which is usually considered as a maternal allo-recognition of paternal antigens of the conceptus. In vivo, r.oTP also exhibits immunosuppressive activity in mice on a Graft Versus Host (Popliteal Lymph Nodes) assay. Finally, r.oTP strongly inhibits immunological embryonic abortion in the usual model of CBA/J × DBA/2 mice if given early in pregnancy, at days 5 and 8 but not later (days 8 and 10). In conclusion, we propose a working hypothesis of the immunoendocrine function of ovine trophoblastin in the mechanisms of embryo immunotolerance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Station de Physiologie animale, I.N.R.A., Unité d’Endocrinologie de l’Embryon, 78352, Jouy-en-Josas cédex, France

    Jacques Martal, Nasser-Eddine Assal, Kamel Zouari, Louis Huynh, Nicole Chêne, Pierrette Reinaud, Gilles Charpigny & Madia Charlier

  2. Biologie cellulaire et moléculaire de la Relation materno-foetale, Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, 92140, Clamart, France

    Aines Assal & Gérard Chaouat

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  1. Jacques Martal
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  2. Nasser-Eddine Assal
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  8. Gilles Charpigny
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  1. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    Stanley R. Glasser  & Joy Mulholland  & 

  2. Hôpital Bicêtre, Bâtiment INSERM Gregory Pincus, Bicêtre, France

    Alexandre Psychoyos

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Martal, J. et al. (1994). Immunoendocrine Functions of Trophoblast Interferons (IFN-τ or TP-1 or Trophoblastins) in the Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy. In: Glasser, S.R., Mulholland, J., Psychoyos, A. (eds) Endocrinology of Embryo-Endometrium Interactions. Reproductive Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1881-5_16

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