Interferon-tau Polymorphisms and Their Potential Functions in Ruminants. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5016/1806-8774.2006v8p9

Authors

  • Alan D Ealy Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, USA
  • Kathleen A Pennington Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, USA
  • Teresa M Rodina Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5016/1806-8774.2006v8p9

Abstract

Ealy AD, Pennington KA, Rodina TM. Interferon-tau Polymorphisms and Their Potential Functions in Ruminants. ARBS Annu Rev Biomed Sci 2006;8:9-18. In ruminants, the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy requires production of a Type I interferon, termed IFN-ô. This protein is synthesized by the developing conceptus and interacts with the uterus to promote continued secretion of progesterone. Multiple genes encode IFN-ô, and a majority of these genes are transcribed during early pregnancy. The proteins possess divergent biological activities, including the ability to prevent the corpus luteum from regressing at the end of a normal estrous cycle. In all likelihood multiple IFN-ô isoforms are produced during early pregnancy to ensure that sufficient quantities of bioactive IFN-ô are present to modulate uterine biology during early pregnancy. Although IFN-ô has evolved to serve as the pregnancy recognition hormone in ruminants, other Type I IFNs, such as IFN-á and IFN-ù, are capable of producing a uterine reponse similar to that of IFN-ô. Hence, the polymorphic nature of IFN-ô genes appear to have generated new and potentially more active forms of the hormone, but the unique expression pattern for IFN-ô is likely the preeminent feature ensuring its use as the maternal recognition of pregnancy factor in ruminants.

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Published

2007-01-31

Issue

Vol. 8 (2006)

Section

Reviews

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