Demmers K J, Derecka K, Flint A
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK.
Reproduction. 2001 Jan;121(1):41-9. doi: 10.1530/rep.0.1210041.
The maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants requires the production of interferons by the preimplantation blastocyst. These proteins, the trophoblast interferons (IFN-tau), are the products of a number of similar genes, the expression of which is controlled by characteristic promoter regions. They are expressed for a short period in high concentrations, and have antiluteolytic, antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects, through receptors on the endometrial epithelium. The antiluteolytic effects of IFN-tau result from inhibition of endometrial expression of the oxytocin receptor, through which circulating oxytocin stimulates episodic prostaglandin F2a production. Some of the properties of IFN-tau differ from those of other type I interferons, and they may have novel therapeutic effects. Because of their central role in early gestation, these proteins have excited the interest of reproductive physiologists. However, their other properties, and the fact that their expression is controlled so precisely, have made them of interest to a wide range of biologists.
反刍动物母体对妊娠的识别需要着床前胚泡产生干扰素。这些蛋白质，即滋养层干扰素（IFN-τ），是许多相似基因的产物，其表达受特征性启动子区域的控制。它们在短时间内高浓度表达，并通过子宫内膜上皮细胞上的受体发挥抗黄体溶解、抗病毒、抗增殖和免疫调节作用。IFN-τ的抗黄体溶解作用是通过抑制子宫内膜催产素受体的表达实现的，循环中的催产素通过该受体刺激前列腺素F2α的间歇性产生。IFN-τ的一些特性与其他I型干扰素不同，它们可能具有新的治疗作用。由于它们在妊娠早期的核心作用，这些蛋白质引起了生殖生理学家的兴趣。然而，它们的其他特性以及其表达受到精确控制这一事实，也引起了广泛生物学家的关注。
