Recent developments and potentialities for reducing embryo mortality in ruminants: the role of IFN-tau and other cytokines in early pregnancy

• Published in: Reproduction fertility and development Vol. 9; no. 3; p. 355
• Main Authors: Martal, J, Chêne, N, Camous, S, Huynh, L, Lantier, F, Hermier, P, L'Haridon, R, Charpigny, G, Charlier, M, Chaouat, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia 1997
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cattle; Cloning, Molecular; Corpus Luteum - drug effects; Corpus Luteum - physiology; Cytokines - physiology; Dinoprost - metabolism; Embryonic and Fetal Development - immunology; Embryonic and Fetal Development - physiology; Endometrium - immunology; Endometrium - physiology; Female; Fetal Death - blood; Fetal Death - diagnosis; Fetal Death - veterinary; Genetic Engineering; Growth Substances - physiology; Interferon Type I - pharmacology; Interferon Type I - physiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins - genetics; Pregnancy Proteins - pharmacology; Pregnancy Proteins - physiology; Pregnancy, Animal - immunology; Pregnancy, Animal - physiology; Receptors, Oxytocin - drug effects; Rodentia; Ruminants - embryology; Ruminants - immunology; Ruminants - physiology; Sheep
• ISSN: 1031-3613
• DOI: 10.1071/R96083

This review considers the potential reduction of embryo mortality in vitro and in vivo in ruminants. Data on cytokines provided by different fields of reproductive immunology and biology were collated. Because of the crucial importance of the local interactions between the embryo and its dam, the expression of growth-factor and cytokine genes was analysed in the embryo proper, trophoblast, oviduct and endometrium by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in sheep and in cattle during the pre- and periimplantation periods. Many deleterious cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and beneficial cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-beta, leukaemia inhibiting factor, colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), granulocyte-macrophage CSF, IL-1, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-tau appeared to be involved in embryo survival in ruminants and other species. Their administration is efficient in a murine experimental model (CBA/J x DBA/2) of embryonic and fetal mortality. For instance, recombinant ovine IFN-tau (roIFN-tau) injected at the moment of implantation drastically reduces embryonic mortality in this model. In ruminants, roIFN-tau and recombinant bovine IFN-tau are very efficient in maintaining progesterone luteal secretion in cyclic animals. The involvement of IFN-tau in the mechanisms of maternal pregnancy recognition are particularly detailed in relation to inhibition of 13,14 dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) pulses and oxytocin uterine receptivity. A synthetic model of the anti-luteolytic effects of IFN-tau on the endometrial cell is proposed. Finally, the particular potential of serum pregnancy-specific proteins (PSPs: PSPB, PSP60, pregnancy-associated glycoprotein) for monitoring embryo survival, with examples given for cattle and sheep is underlined.