Murine pregnancy decidua produces a unique immunosuppressive molecule related to transforming growth factor beta-2.
Non-T small lymphocytic suppressor cells in murine allopregnancy release a potent immunosuppressive factor in vitro that is neutralized by rabbit anti-transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. Previous studies have suggested that the decidual suppressor factor (DSF) is smaller than TGF-beta 1, and in this paper, we show that DSF on HPLC-sieving columns also elutes later than TGF-beta 2. Nevertheless, DSF has the ability to promote anchorage-independent growth of NRK fibroblasts similar to TGF-beta s. Using turkey antibodies specific for TGF-beta 1 or beta 2, we show that DSF is related to TGF-beta 2 rather than TGF-beta 1, and this relationship was confirmed by using a panel of murine mAb to TGF-subtypes. PAGE and Western blotting showed that the TGF-beta 2-reactive molecules in HPLC-purified DSF was slightly smaller than TGF-beta 2 and approximately 20 to 23 kDa. The DSF molecule is therefore closely related to TGF-beta 2 but as released from decidua, differs in size. The TGF-beta 2-related decidual suppressor factor was also obtained from the decidua of synpregnant C.B.-17 severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) and pregnant SCID-BG (C57BL/6 background) mice, confirming the lack of T or B cell dependence of DSF production and the generality of production of a TGF-beta-related suppressor factor by decidua associated with successful pregnancy in mice.
Clark
D A
DA
Molecular Virology and Immunology Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Flanders
K C
KC
Banwatt
D
D
Millar-Book
W
W
Manuel
J
J
Stedronska-Clark
J
J
Rowley
B
B
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors