title: Mifepristone (Ru486) antagonizes monocyte chemotactic protein-3 down-regulation at early mouse pregnancy revealing immunomodulatory events in Ru486 induced abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The survival of an embryo bearing the paternal antigens within the immunocompetent environment of the maternal uterus renders 'pregnancy' to be a state of immunological paradox. The ratio of Th1/Th2 responses is crucial for pregnancy maintenance. Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-3 (MCP3) is a pro-inflammatory, CC chemokine and a Th1 effector which is capable of eliciting significant anti-tumoral immune responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  MCP3 expression was investigated in the murine uterine tissue at different days of initial pregnancy and the effect of RU 486 in immature and delayed implantation model studied using Western blotting and Immunocytochemical techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show very high uterine MCP3 expression during pre-implantation followed by a significant MCP3 down-regulation at peri-implantation and low levels of MCP3 during post-implantation period. At the peri-implantation stage, embryos exhibited lowered MCP3 expression when compared with the pre-implantation stage. Ru486, a progesterone antagonist when given in a competitive mode with progesterone resulted in a massive surge in MCP3 expression in both immature mice and delayed implantation models. We hypothesize that it is imperative for MCP3 expression to be down-regulated for the success of pregnancy. The cross-talk between Ru486 and amplified MCP3 expression may be one of the mechanisms by way of which RU486 performs its abortificient and anti tumor role.
authors.affiliation: Embryo Implantation Group, Molecular Reproduction Unit, School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Vigyan Bhawan, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jaya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nautiyal
authors.forename: Pradeep G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laloraya
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000818:Animals; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D054410:Chemokine CCL7; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C515451:Ccl7 protein, mouse; D054410:Chemokine CCL7; D016207:Cytokines; D006728:Hormones; D018945:Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins; D015735:Mifepristone