Interferon in pregnancy.
The cells of the immune system exchange information by a complex network of molecules referred to as lymphokines: these include the interferons. The physiology of the interferons, both in terms of control and function, is poorly understood. However, there is ample evidence that production of alpha-interferon is characteristic of the fetoplacental unit in both the human and other species. Indeed, the major trophoblast protein in early pregnancy in the sheep is alpha-interferon and in this species the molecule appears to have an important anti-luteolytic effect. The function of the interferons in human pregnancy is not known but, by analogy with information from other experimental systems, it might reflect aspects of the immune relationship between the mother and the fetus.
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Department of Reproductive Physiology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, London, UK.
D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000032:analysis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007372:Interferons / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C020947:interferon tau; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons