title: Progesterone induced blocking factor isoforms in normal and failed murine pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) is required for successful pregnancy. Alternative splicing produces PIBF isoforms with different functions. The full-length (90 kDa) PIBF is involved in cell cycle regulation, whereas smaller secreted forms act as cytokines. We aim to examine the PIBF exon pattern and protein isoform profile in normal and failed murine pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant Balb/c mice were killed on gestation days 12-14 or 17-19. Normal and resorbed fetuses, placentae, and uterine tissue were used for RNA and protein analysis with RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Late pregnancy and resorption were associated with lower expression of the N-terminal exons, together with significantly reduced production of the full-length protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced production of the full-length PIBF protein might result in disturbed cell cycle regulation and dysregulated trophoblast invasion, while the absence of PIBF isoforms containing exon 2-4 coded sequences might lead to the loss of local immunosuppression.
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, Pecs University, Pecs, Hungary.
authors: Agnes
authors: A
authors: Bogdan
authors: Beata
authors: B
authors: Polgar
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Szekeres-Bartho
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C110058:PIBF1 protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic
keywords: Exons; PIBF isoforms; mouse pregnancy; resorption