Antiviral activity of the pregnancy recognition hormone ovine trophoblast protein-1.
Ovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1) is an antiluteolytic protein which plays an important role in maternal recognition of pregnancy. It exhibits a 45-70% amino acid sequence homology with alpha interferons (IFN-alpha s) from various species. We show here that purified oTP-1 has high specific antiviral activity (2-3 X 10(8) units/mg protein) and is thus as potent as any known IFN. oTP-1 is antigenically distinct but does show antigenic relation to both ovine and bovine IFN-alpha s. The antiviral activity of oTP-1 could be demonstrated in Day 12 - Day 16 conceptus culture medium and in allantoic fluid from Day 60 of pregnancy. Our functional and antigenic characterization suggests that oTP-1 is a type of IFN-alpha which performs classic roles associated with IFN-alpha, as well as being the primary conceptus secretory product responsible for maternal recognition of pregnancy.
Pontzer
C H
CH
Department of Comparative and Experimental Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
Torres
B A
BA
Vallet
J L
JL
Bazer
F W
FW
Johnson
H M
HM
D000482:Allantois / Q000032:analysis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C020947:interferon tau