Interferon-Stimulated Gene Expression in Peripheral Blood Leucocytes as a Convenient Prediction Marker for Embryo Status in Embryo-Transferred Japanese Black Cows during the Peri-Implantation Period.

Pregnancy diagnosis during early gestation is important for cattle reproduction. The expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) was studied in embryo-transferred (ET) Japanese Black cattle. ISGs in PBLs-, , , and -were detected in multiple ovulation ET cattle using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Gestational status was predicted using the average ISG levels during the normal estrous cycle (AVE) and the Youden index from the ROC curve analysis as cutoff values. The , , and levels were significantly higher in pregnant cattle ( = 10) than in non-pregnant cattle ( = 23) on gestation day 21, whereas the levels of all ISGs were similar between non-pregnant and non-pregnant cattle with late embryonic death ( = 7). , , and appropriately predicted the gestational status of ET cows. The statistical evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy in ET cows on day 21 of gestation presented higher values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive values of , and using the Youden index than using the AVE. Therefore, , , and are excellent biomarkers of gestational status during the peri-implantation period in ET cattle.