Expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells mRNA in maternal peripheral blood cells.
OBJECTIVE
In T lymphocytes, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT) regulates the induction of cytokine genes upon antigenic stimulation. This study was designed to analyse the relationship between NF-AT and pregnancy.


METHODS
With informed consent, peripheral blood cells (PBCs) were obtained from non-pregnant (n = 114), pregnant (n = 604), and puerperal women (n = 52). The expression of NF-AT2 and NF-AT3 mRNAs in PBCs was measured by a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method.


RESULTS
In the early pregnancy period, in successful pregnancy, both NF-AT2 and NF-AT3 mRNAs increased significantly, whereas in cases of spontaneous abortion they did not change significantly. After peaking, they decreased gradually and were re-elevated in the ninth and tenth gestational month. In the puerperal period, NF-AT3 mRNAs decreased, but NF-AT2 mRNA showed a comparatively high expression level.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggested that in humans NF-AT signal transduction might be involved in alloantigenic recognition and tolerance and play important roles, especially in the early and late period of pregnancy.
Kojima
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokouji, Kamigyo-Ku, Japan.
Tamura
T
T
Okuda
T
T
Kato
C
C
Kinoshita
Y
Y
Honjo
H
H
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors