Production of two species of interferon by Large White and Meishan pig conceptuses during the peri-attachment period

• Published in: Journal of reproduction & fertility Vol. 91; no. 2; pp. 469 - 478
• Main Authors: La Bonnardiere, C., Martinat-Botte, F., Terqui, M., Lefevre, F., Zouari, K., Martal, J., Bazer, F. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Society for Reproduction and Fertility 01-03-1991
• Subjects: Animals; Blastocyst - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Embryo Implantation - immunology; Female; Interferon Type I - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferons - biosynthesis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal - immunology; Swine - genetics; Swine - immunology; Swine - physiology
• ISSN: 1470-1626; 0022-4251; 1741-7899
• DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0910469

Antiviral activities present in uterine flushings from pregnant Large White, Large White 'hyperprolific', and prolific Meishan
gilts, between Days 8 and 20 of gestation were compared. Flushings (20 ml) from all gilts between Days 14 and 20 were positive
in an in-vitro interferon (IFN) assay using vesicular stomatitis virus as a challenge infection. Highest antiviral activities
(of up to 400 000–1 200 000 total Units/flushing) were obtained at Day 16 of gestation, i.e. clearly after the beginning of
attachment. There was no major difference between breeds although, at Day 14, flushings from Meishan gilts yielded significantly
higher titres than those from the other two, suggesting a correlation with the previously described earlier trophoblast elongation
in Meishan gilts. Conceptus cultures contained antiviral activity, with values very close to those obtained in vivo , but the difference between breeds was not significant. Cultures from Day 20 on contained very little antiviral activity.
The antiviral activity was associated with a mixture of at least two IFNs, one of which was IFN-alpha like, and the other
was serologically identified as an IFN-gamma, that is an 'immune IFN', previously found to be secreted only by T lymphocytes.
This finding may have implications for our understanding of the immunology of early pregnancy.
Keywords: pig; conceptus; attachment; antiviral activity; immune interferon