Expression of allograft inflammatory factor-1 in mouse uterus and poly(I:C)-induced fetal resorption.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is expressed and plays a role in the reproductive system.


METHODS
AIF-1 expression was examined in uteri of non-pregnant and pregnant mice by Northern blot analysis, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The expression of AIF-1 varied during the estrous cycle with a peak at estrus. After the insemination, the expression of AIF-1 mRNA diminished gradually and again increased in the pre-implantation or implantation period in allogeneic or syngeneic pregnancy, respectively. Enhanced expressions of AIF-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) mRNA were observed in the embryos of resorption-prone pregnancy injected with poly(I:C).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated for the first time that AIF-1 was expressed in uterus. The expression level was associated with the population size of macrophage and varied during the estrous cycle and the pregnancy period. The augmented expression of AIF-I with concomitant expressions of TNF-alpha and NOS2 mRNA in poly(I:C)-injected mice suggests a correlation between AIF-1 production and fetal resorption.
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
C491049:Aif1 protein, mouse; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011070:Poly I-C