Temporal and spatial expression of tumor-associated antigen RCAS1 in pregnant mouse uterus.
OBJECTIVE
The tumor-associated antigen RCAS1 (receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells) is considered to play a role in the inhibition of maternal immune response during pregnancy, and participates in the initiation of labor and placental detachment. The aim of our study was to investigate the expression of RCAS1 protein in the uteri of normal pregnant mice.


METHODS
of study Uteri with fetuses were collected from pregnant ICR mice on days 1.5, 3.5, 5.5, 7.5, and 9.5 p.c., and uterine and placental tissues were obtained separately on days 11.5, 13.5, 15.5, and 17.5 p.c. Samples were examined using real-time (RT)-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical analyses.


RESULTS
In normal pregnant mice, RCAS1 protein mRNA was significantly increased on day 7.5 p.c. Antigen localization was detected in the placenta, decidua, and fetus.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest the importance of day 7.5 p.c. for RCAS1 protein expression in connection with placentation as a possible target for future in vivo studies.
Tskitishvili
Ekaterine
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita City, Osaka, Japan. ekaterinet@hotmail.com
Nakamura
Hitomi
H
Kinugasa-Taniguchi
Yukiko
Y
Kanagawa
Takeshi
T
Kimura
Tadashi
T
Tomimatsu
Takuji
T
Shimoya
Koichiro
K
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D010929:Placentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C534295:EBAG9 protein, mouse; D012333:RNA, Messenger