Control of interferon-tau expression during early pregnancy in ruminants.
OBJECTIVE
A type I interferon (IFN), termed IFN-tau (tau), is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of early pregnancy in cattle and sheep. The control of IFNtau gene (IFNT) expression is not completely understood.


METHODS
This article will provide an overview of recent progress made in understanding the dynamic expression pattern of IFNT during pre- and peri-attachment conceptus development.


RESULTS
Several ubiquitous transcriptional regulators (Ets2 and AP1) and at least two trophectoderm factors (Cdx2 and Dlx3) control IFNT transcription during early pregnancy. Co-activators (CBP/p300) are also involved in this process. At least two uterine-derived factors (GM-CSF and FGF2) stimulate IFN-tau production in bovine trophectoderm, and multiple signaling pathways are functionally linked with IFNT expression.


CONCLUSIONS
Although understanding the regulation of IFNT expression is far from complete, considerable progress has been made in uncovering how uterine-derived factors and key placental-specific transcriptional regulators control IFNT expression.
Ealy
Alan D
AD
Department of Animal Sciences; University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910, USA. ealy@ufl.edu
Yang
Qi En
QE
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D012418:Ruminants / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C020947:interferon tau