早孕因子及其在哺乳类生殖中的作用

长期以来早孕生理中的一个悬而未决的问题是,为什么母体不排斥具有父、母双方遗传基因的异体胎儿?实验表明,母体对于各种胎儿相关抗原能发生免疫反应,但正常情况下其强度不致达到排斥胎儿。那么是什么因素使母体的免疫排斥反应受到抑制并从而保护胎儿不致被排斥?有人提出,妊娠期产生的多种血清因子和激素,如人绒毛膜促性腺激素(HCG)、人胎盘生乳素、甲胎蛋白以及妊娠带蛋白等可能参与抑制母体的免疫排斥反应。最近有人发现在早孕母体血清中存在另一种独特的免疫抑制因子,并称其为早孕因子(early pregnancy factor,EPF)。早孕因子是用玫瑰花抑制测验在早孕母体血清中检出的一种免疫抑制因子。在体和离体条件下早孕因     

注射用天花粉对早孕兔子宫收缩的作用

天花粉针剂中期引产的成功,是中西医结合、整理和提高祖国医药学遗产的一项重要成果。据报道,天花粉蛋白的引产原理,主要作用于胎盘绒毛的合体滋养层细胞。由于药物引起滋养层细胞的变性和坏死,破坏其功能,从而导致胎儿死亡,以达到引产目的。但是关于天花粉蛋白使滋养层细胞损伤,如何引起宫缩发动的问题,尚缺乏针对性研究。目前,天花粉针剂在临床上用于早孕流产,出现了可喜的苗头;以天花粉针剂和15甲基前列腺素 F_(2α)联合用药终止早孕,更取得显著进展。开展天花粉蛋白对妊娠     

MDR3（ABCB4）、BSEP（ABCB11）和FIC1（ATP881）基因在人绒毛和正常妊娠胎盘组织表达的研究

目的检测肝脏胆盐载体FIC1（ATP881）、BSEP（ABCB11）和MDR3（ABCB4）在正常绒毛和胎盘组织中转录水平和蛋白水平的表达情况,探讨肝脏胆盐载体在人类胎盘胆汁酸排泌过程中的作用和功能。方法选择正常妊娠6～12周的孕妇（早孕组）15例和妊娠38～40周的孕妇（晚孕组）20例,采用实时定量逆转录一聚合酶链反应技术（realtimeRT．PCR）检测绒毛和胎盘组织中上3种载体的mRNA,采用免疫组织化学（S-P）法分别检测后两种载体蛋白在上述35例胎盘组织中的表达,并通过免疫印迹技术分析这两种载体在胎盘组织中的含量。结果在所有绒毛和胎盘组织中均检测到3种载体的mRNA。MDR3mRNA在正常绒毛中的表达量较低为（0．15±0．04）,正常晚期妊娠胎盘中表达量为（0．58±0．06）,两者比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。与早孕组相比,FIC1mRNA表达水平明显由（0．65±0．03）下降至（0．23±0．04）,差别有非常显著意义（P〈0．01）。而BSEPmRNA表达无改变（0．06±0．01和0．05±0．01）（P〉0．05）。MDR3蛋白、BSEP蛋白在正常绒毛和胎盘组织中均有表达,且两种载体在正常早孕绒毛及晚期妊娠胎盘分布范围基本一致,主要分布在绒毛合体滋养细胞母体面游离缘。MDR3、BSEP蛋白在绒毛和晚期妊娠胎盘中的表达趋势与其mRNA相似,MDR3蛋白Western印迹条带的光密度值为（11357±3618）（早孕组）和（46753±2834）（晚孕组）,两组比较有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。BSEP蛋白早孕组Western印迹条带的光密度值为（1296±436）,晚孕组为（1798±575）,两组比较差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论3种肝脏胆盐载体FIC1、MDR3和BSEP在正常绒毛和胎盘组织中均有表达,可能参与了胎盘胆汁酸的排泌功能。妊娠期间MDR3、FIC1和BSEPmRNA和蛋白表达发生变化,可能与胎儿生长发育的需要有关。     

IK细胞因子在小鼠早孕期子宫内膜的表达规律及其在胚胎着床中的作用

通过Real-time PCR、Western blot及免疫组织化学方法分析了IK细胞因子(IK cytokine)在早孕小鼠(妊娠D1~D7)子宫内膜中的表达规律及宫角注射IK细胞因子反义寡聚脱氧核苷酸后对胚胎着床的影响。结果显示,IK细胞因子mRNA表达在D1~D4逐渐升高,于D4达到高峰(P<0.05);Western blot和免疫组织化学结果与Real-time PCR结果基本一致,其蛋白表达在D1~D5逐渐升高,于D5达到高峰(P<0.05);IK细胞因子在D5胚胎着床点的表达显著高于着床旁组织;假孕小鼠子宫内膜IK细胞因子蛋白表达明显低于正常妊娠,且整个假孕过程中没有表达高峰;宫角注射IK细胞因子反义寡聚脱氧核苷酸后24 h和48 h(即D4和D5)子宫内膜IK细胞因子表达明显受到抑制,MHCⅡ抗原表达增强,且胚胎着床数量明显减少(P<0.05),提示IK细胞因子在胚胎着床中发挥着重要作用。     

早孕因子化学本质的研究进展

早孕因子化学本质的研究进展杨德吉,吉传义,龚晓明（南京农业大学动物医学系,南京２１００９５）关键词早孕因子早孕因子（ＥＰＦ,ＥａｒｌｙＰｒｅｇｎａｎｃｙＦａｃｔｏｒ）是存在于早孕血清中的一种免疫抑制因子。胎儿在母体内不被当作异体抗原而受到免疫排斥,这...     

β-Arrestins参与GPCRs信号通路的分子机制

β-抑制蛋白(β arrestins)是一类在β肾上腺素受体激酶（βARK)提纯过程中发现的重要支架蛋白和信号调控因子;G蛋白偶联受体（GPCRs）为7次跨膜受体,在细胞信号转导中发挥关键作用,是很多临床药物的作用靶点. β-抑制蛋白作为衔接蛋白,调控GPCRs相关的信号通路,介导GPCRs的脱敏、内化、循环、复敏等生理过程,影响多种疾病的进程. 本文总结了β-抑制蛋白参与GPCRs信号通路的研究进展,侧重阐明了其中的分子机制,以期为开发新一代调控GPCRs功能活性的相关药物提供理论基础.     

PIASx结构与功能的研究进展

PIAS（protein inhibitor of activated STAT）蛋白家族能够与许多蛋白质发生相互作用,其中大部分为转录因子。PIASx是4个组成成员中的一种,其包括两个亚型。PIASx通过与不同种类的蛋白相互作用,影响它们的活性和功能。PIASx蛋白的调控机制主要有两种：一种是通过其自身所具有的SUMO（smallubiquitin-related modifiers）E3连接酶活性,促进对一些转录因子、转录辅因子的SUMO化修饰,从而调控它们的转录活性;另一种是作为构架蛋白,通过与雄激素受体的作用参与雄激素介导的基因转录调节。PIAS蛋白的上述两种作用机制并不是完全互相排斥的,这体现了PIASx蛋白功能的特异性和复杂性。     

燕麦嗜酸菌鞭毛素的提纯及其活性检测

为阐明燕麦嗜酸菌(Aaa)鞭毛素作为一种病原相关分子模式(PAMP)诱导水稻免疫反应(PTI)的作用机理,采用机械震荡、丙酮沉淀以及离子交换层析进行了蛋白提纯,并用DAB染色法对其诱导水稻产生H2O2的能力进行了测定。结果表明,上述提纯方法的组合使用有效地提纯了分子量约为45 kD的鞭毛素,经浸润接种处理后诱导了水稻叶组织H2O2的产生。因此,Aaa鞭毛素提纯蛋白可用于后续的水稻PTI机理分析。     

RU486对早孕猕猴海马GR的影响

目的探讨早孕猕猴给予大剂量RU486 3天后海马糖皮质激素受体(GR)的表达变化.方法 15只早孕猕猴随机分为空白对照组、赋形剂组和RU486组.空白对照组不予任何处理,赋形剂组和RU486组分别鼻饲赋形剂和RU486 3天.应用单克隆抗体链菌素亲生物蛋白过氧化酶(SP)免疫组织化学方法观察海马GR的表达情况,并用电子计算机图象分析技术进行处理.结果 RU486组猕猴妊娠终止,该组的海马GR表达显著下降,与对照组的差异有显著性.空白对照组和赋形剂组猕猴妊娠没有终止,其海马GR表达无差异.结论 RU486可使早孕猕猴海马的GR表达下降,推测这可能是该药终止妊娠的中枢作用机理之一.     

核糖体失活蛋白体内外抗病毒的实验研究

核糖体失活蛋白是一类广泛存在于高等植物细胞内的能抑制核糖体功能的植物蛋白。建立了从苦瓜籽中提纯核糖体失活蛋白的方法,蛋白质电泳结果显示提取液中含有一定量的核糖体失活蛋白。在鸡胚成纤维细胞和鸡胚上进行核糖体灭活蛋白体内外抗马立克病病毒、新城疫病毒和鸡痘病毒试验,结果均表明核糖体灭活蛋白对3种病毒有一定的抑制作用。     

Purification and characterization of early pregnancy factor from human pregnancy sera

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is a pregnancy-associated protein detected in the maternal serum by using the rosette inhibition assay and by evaluating the suppression of adoptive transfer of contact sensitivity. Because of its inhibitory effect on the functional reactivity of immunocompetent cells, EPF is thought to be involved in immunoregulation of the maternal immune system during early pregnancy. EPF was purified six million-fold from the serum of pregnant women between 5 and 12 weeks of gestation. The specific activity of purified EPF was approximately 8 x 10(8) units/mg. The purification scheme involved sequential DEAE-cellulose chromatography, S-Sepharose chromatography, concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography, heparin-Sepharose chromatography, Mono S fast protein liquid chromatography, and preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified protein has an apparent molecular weight of 21,500 as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 28,000 by gel permeation high pressure liquid chromatography. The isoelectric point of purified EPF moiety is 6.5. The biological activity was susceptible to the proteolytic enzyme trypsin, acidic pH conditions, organic solvents, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, but stable to heat treatment at 56 degrees C for 30 min and the reducing agent dithiothreitol. The biological and physicochemical properties of EPF appear to be distinct from other pregnancy-associated and immunoregulatory proteins.     

Measurement of EPF for detection of cow pregnancy using rosette inhibition test

Early embryonic death of calves due to sub-fertility in cows is of great economic concern to dairy industry. Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is a secretory protein with pregnancy associated immunosuppressive properties. Rosette inhibition test (RIT) was used to detect EPF in inseminated dairy cows. Blood samples were collected at two intervals, 1-3 and 5-7 days after insemination from 23 inseminated and 18 non-inseminated control cows for RIT and pregnancy diagnosis performed between 42 and 45 days on palpation. The study indicates that RIT (P<0.05) has the potential to distinguish pregnant from non-pregnant dairy cows in the first week of pregnancy.     

Identification of a putative inhibitor of early pregnancy factor in mice

Previous studies have indicated that early pregnancy factor (EPF) produced in the pre- and peri-implantation stage of pregnancy appears to consist of inactive components which combine to produce the active species. This is in contrast with EPF produced later in gestation which appears to consist of a single active species. The original studies on ammonium sulphate fractionation of mouse serum and in-vitro culture of mouse ovaries and oviducts have been repeated but tested in the bioassay for EPF, the rosette inhibition test, over an extended range of dilutions. This revealed that the two components in early pregnancy can be understood as EPF and an inhibitor(s). Once this inhibitor is removed, the active fractions in both early and late pregnancy sera exhibit similar behaviour in the above assay. It was shown also that the ovary alone is the source of activity but that this is modulated by an inhibitory substance(s) from the oviduct. Reversed-phase HPLC studies on purified 'early' EPF confirm that active and inhibitory components are present and demonstrate that the active component exhibits an identical elution pattern to 'late' EPF. Thus as pregnancy proceeds, it is not EPF that alters but rather the inhibitor(s), which disappears from the circulation soon after implantation. This substance(s) is under hormonal control, being present during oestrus as well as the early stages of pregnancy; it may be an important biological regulator of EPF. Its action in the rosette inhibition test has profound implications for further study using this bioassay.     

Investigation of the immunocompetent cells that bind early pregnancy factor and preliminary studies of the early pregnancy factor target molecule

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is a secreted protein with immunosuppressive and growth factor properties. It has been shown to suppress the delayed-type hypersensitivity response in mice as well as acute and chronic forms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats and mice, respectively. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that EPF binds to a population of lymphocytes and we hypothesized that it mediates its suppressive effects by binding to CD4+ T cells. In the present study, we isolated monocytes and subpopulations of lymphocytes and labelled them with fluoresceinated EPF in order to determine which populations bind EPF. We demonstrated that EPF binds specifically to CD4+, CD8+, CD14+ (monocytes) and CD56+ NK cells but not to CD19+ B cells. The identity of the molecule(s) on the cell surface that is targeted by EPF is unknown, but as EPF is an extracellular homologue of the intracellular protein chaperonin 10 (Cpn10), we examined the possibility that the EPF receptor is a membrane-associated form of chaperonin 60 (Cpn60), the functional associate of Cpn10 within the cell. The EPF target molecule on lymphocytes was visualized by chemical cross-linking of exogenous iodinated Cpn10 to cells and probed with anti-Cpn60. The effect of anti-Cpn60 on activity in the EPF bioassay, the rosette inhibition test, was also examined. In both instances, no specific interaction of this antibody and the putative receptor was observed. It was concluded that the cell surface molecule targeted by EPF is unlikely to be a homologue of Cpn60.     

In-vivo and in-vitro determination of components of rabbit early pregnancy factors

Two types of rabbit early pregnancy factor (EPF) components, prepared from the in-vitro perfused ovary and oviduct and from serum ammonium sulphate fractions, were investigated to elucidate the source of EPF production. The state of the animals, i.e. pregnant, pseudopregnant, unstimulated or platelet activating factor (PAF)-treated, and order of addition of the components to the assay lymphocytes were varied to characterize conditions of production and expression of EPF activity. Although each component alone had no EPF activity, combination of two components, i.e. ovary and oviduct components, or serum precipitate and supernatant components, expressed EPF activity. The oviduct and serum supernatant components were produced in pregnancy and pseudopregnancy but the ovary and serum precipitate components were produced only in pregnancy. The similarity of the production pattern and ability of the perfusate and serum components to yield EPF activity when combined suggests that they are similar or the same. The sources of stimulation of EPF production did not appear to affect component production because the activity produced by the perfused ovary and oviduct in pregnancy or in response to PAF stimulation appeared similar. Oviduct and supernatant components apparently bound directly to lymphocytes. These results suggest that EPF components are produced in the ovary and oviduct individually and that the combination of the two components expresses EPF activity in the rabbit.     

Preparation and characterization of polyclonal antibodies against human chaperonin 10

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) has been identified as an extracellular homologue of chaperonin 10 (Cpn10), a heat shock protein that functions within the cell as a molecular chaperone. Here, we report the production of polyclonal antibodies directed against several different regions of the human Cpn10 molecule and their application to specific protein quantitation and localization techniques. These antibodies will be valuable tools in further studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the differential spatial and temporal localization of EPF and Cpn10 and in studies to elucidate structure and function.     

Identification of molecules involved in the 'early pregnancy factor' phenomenon.

An isolated preparation from ovine placental extracts which was active in the rosette inhibition assay mimicking the activity of the so-called 'early pregnancy factor' (EPF) has been shown to contain a 12 kDa polypeptide which could be partially resolved from low-molecular-weight active moieties. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the polypeptide indicated that it was ovine thioredoxin, an identification confirmed by isolation and complete sequence analysis of the corresponding cDNA. The cDNA for human thioredoxin was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein isolated and purified. Pure recombinant thioredoxin alone did not induce the expression of increased rosette inhibition titres (RITs) when tested in the rosette inhibition assay; but, when tested in combination with cell stimuli such as platelet-activating factor (PAF) or serum, it allowed the expression of increased RITs where none was achieved in its absence. Thioredoxin acted in the assay to reverse a refractory state normally induced by these stimuli, allowing lipoxygenase-dependent moieties also induced by the stimuli to exert their effects, resulting in the expression of increased RITs. Antibodies to recombinant thioredoxin removed from pregnancy sera the capacity to induce increased RITs, i.e. to express EPF activity, thus establishing a role for thioredoxin or thioredoxin-like proteins and associated molecules in the mechanisms which allow pregnancy sera to induce increased RITs. Based on a consideration of these and other results, a new model for the study of the EPF phenomenon is presented and discussed.     

Recombinant EPF/chaperonin 10 promotes the survival of O4-positive pro-oligodendrocytes prepared from neonatal rat brain

Chaperonin 10 (cpn 10) is a small heat-shock protein that is usually intracellular. Early pregnancy factor (EPF), a biologically active protein that was first described in the serum of pregnant mammals, is homologous to cpn 10. EPF/cpn 10 has been reported to have effects on immunomodulation and cell survival and to inhibit activation of toll-like receptors by lipopolysaccharide. We found that recombinant EPF/cpn 10 was able to suppress experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis, which is a disease causing inflammation and demyelination of the brain and spinal cord. This beneficial effect could be due to anti-inflammatory and/or cell survival properties of EPF/cpn 10. We aimed to assess the effects of cpn 10 on cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage because oligodendrocytes are the brain cells that produce myelin and that are depleted in multiple sclerosis. Two forms of recombinant EPF/cpn 10 were prepared in the pGEX expression system and in the baculovirus expression system. Purified O4⁺ pro-oligodendrocytes were prepared from the brains of day-old Wistar rats and isolated by cell sorting with flow cytometry. Single cells were dispensed into micro-well plates and tested for survival in the presence of a range of concentrations of the two forms of cpn 10. We also studied the effects of bFGF, PDGF, IGF-1 and insulin as controls. With cpn 10 present, there was enhanced survival of O4⁺ cells.     

Detection of early pregnancy factor (EPF) using the rabbit ovary and oviduct perfused in vitro

Two peaks of rabbit serum EPF activity were seen over the course of pregnancy. Rabbit ovaries with or without attached oviducts were perfused in vitro for 5 h beginning 12, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 120 h after mating. Perfused isolated ovaries did not produce EPF in vitro, but significant EPF activity was detected in the perfusate of the ovary together with oviduct. Pseudopregnant animals and those rabbits that did not ovulate exhibited no perfusate EPF activity. Perfusate EPF activity was highest at the time embryos were at the pronuclear stage and continued through the morula stage. Although the location of embryos at 72 h after mating varied between oviduct and uterus, EPF activity was maintained over the perfusion period. The results suggest that EPF release occurs within 3 h of fertilization and that the presence of the preblastocyst embryo is crucial for EPF release.