Isolation and purification of an early pregnancy factor-like molecule from culture supernatants obtained from lymphocytes of pregnant women: II. Identification of the molecule as a Fc-receptor-like molecule: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
Early pregnancy factor (EPF)-like activity from culture supernatants obtained from stimulated lymphocytes of pregnant women was characterized and identified.


METHODS
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay depending on the presence of "Fc" receptors on bovine spermatozoa was used to identify the EPF-like molecule purified by gel filtration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
The results indicated that the crude lymphocyte culture supernatant, the EPF-positive G IV fraction obtained on gel filtration, and the EPF-positive reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography protein readily bound with the different concentrations of aggregated human gamma-globulin in a manner similar to that in which the standard control of aggregated human gamma-globulin binds to the bovine spermatozoa.


CONCLUSIONS
EPF-like activity synthesized and secreted by lymphocytes during pregnancy may be a Fc-receptor-like molecule.
Aranha
C
C
Institute for Research in Reproduction (ICMR), Mumbai, India.
Bordekar
A
A
Shahani
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D018835:Chaperonin 10; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011485:Protein Binding; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000378:metabolism
D018835:Chaperonin 10; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D010455:Peptides; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; C025124:early pregnancy factor; D005719:gamma-Globulins