Conceptus-modulated innate immune function during early pregnancy in ruminants: a review

Author(s)

Cecilia Constantino Rocha ^[1] ; Juliano Coelho da Silveira ^[2] ; Niamh Forde ^[3] ; Mario Binelli ^[4] ; Guilherme Pugliesi ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Reprodução Animal - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária - Brasil

^[3] University of Leeds. School of Medicine. Discovery and Translational Sciences Department - Reino Unido

^[4] University of Florida. Department of Animal Sciences - Estados Unidos

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Reprodução Animal - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Animal Reproduction; v. 18, n. 1 2021-05-10.

Abstract

Abstract This review focuses on the innate immune events modulated by conceptus signaling during early pregnancy in ruminants. Interferon-tau (IFN-τ) plays a role in the recognition of pregnancy in ruminants, which involves more than the inhibition of luteolytic pulses of PGF2α to maintain corpus luteum function. For successful pregnancy establishment, the allogenic conceptus needs to prevent rejection by the female. Therefore, IFN-τ exerts paracrine and endocrine actions to regulate the innate immune system and prevent conceptus rejection. Additionally, other immune regulators work in parallel with IFN-τ, such as the pattern recognition receptors (PRR). These receptors are activated during viral and bacterial infections and in early pregnancy, but it remains unknown whether PPR expression and function are controlled by IFN-τ. Therefore, this review focuses on the main components of the innate immune response that are involved with early pregnancy and their importance to avoid conceptus rejection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/02995-6 - Study of the enriched-pathways in immune cells during early pregnancy and new pregnancy markers in the whole blood of bovine females
• Grantee: Cecilia Constantino Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• FAPESP's process: 15/10606-9 - Innovations in the early pregnancy diagnosis in cattle
• Grantee: Guilherme Pugliesi
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/13994-5 - Study of transcriptomic profile in immune cells of peripheral blood during early pregnancy in beef heifers
• Grantee: Cecilia Constantino Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master