title: Expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells mRNA in maternal peripheral blood cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokouji, Kamigyo-Ku, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Honjo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors