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

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.

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

This review focuses on the innate immune events modulated by conceptus signaling during early pregnancy in ruminants. Interferon-tau (IFN-) plays a role in the recognition of pregnancy in ruminants, which involves more than the inhibition of luteolytic pulses of PGF2 to maintain corpus luteum function. For successful pregnancy establishment, the allogenic conceptus needs to prevent rejection by the female. Therefore, IFN- exerts paracrine and endocrine actions to regulate the innate immune system and prevent conceptus rejection. Additionally, other immune regulators work in parallel with IFN-, 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-. 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)

Understanding the uterine environment in early pregnancy in cattle: How have the omicsenhanced our knowledge?

Early pregnancy loss in cattle can be attributed to a myriad of sources. One key factor that can influence early pregnancy success or loss is the influence and interactions between the maternal environment and the developing embryo/conceptus. Recent advancesin high-throughput ‘omics' technologies coupled with improved bioinformatics capabilities represent a promising avenue for enhancing our understanding of fundamental developmental events– which would have direct agricultural, veterinary, and economic benefits. Thusly this review revolves around recent applications of advanced transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses within a bovine uterine secretomic and interactomic context, with an overriding aim to highlight the advantages of these emerging fields whilst identify ingareas for improvement, consideration, and further research and development.

Understanding the uterine environment in early pregnancy in cattle: How have the omicsenhanced our knowledge?

Early pregnancy loss in cattle can be attributed to a myriad of sources. One key factor that can influence early pregnancy success or loss is the influence and interactions between the maternal environment and the developing embryo/conceptus. Recent advancesin high-throughput ‘omics' technologies coupled with improved bioinformatics capabilities represent a promising avenue for enhancing our understanding of fundamental developmental eventswhich would have direct agricultural, veterinary, and economic benefits. Thusly this review revolves around recent applications of advanced transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses within a bovine uterine secretomic and interactomic context, with an overriding aim to highlight the advantages of these emerging fields whilst identify ingareas for improvement, consideration, and further research and development.(AU)

Characterization of the Th profile of the bovine endometrium during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy.

Despite extensive research in the area of cow fertility, the extent to which the maternal immune system is modulated during pregnancy in cattle remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to characterize the presence and response profile of B, T-helper (LTh), T- cytotoxic (LTc), gamma delta-T (γδT) and natural killer (NK) lymphocytes in terms of cell number, distribution and cytokine expression in bovine endometrial tissue to pregnancy. Endometrial tissue samples were collected from beef heifers on Days 5, 7, 13 and 16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. Samples were analysed by immunofluorescence to identify the presence and abundance of B-B7 (B-cells), CD4 (LTh), CD8 (LTc), γδT cell receptor (TCR) and CD335/NKp46 (NK cells) -positive immune cells. Quantitative real time PCR (QPCR) was carried out to analyse mRNA relative abundance of FOXP3 (a marker of regulatory T (Treg) cells) and a panel of immune factors, including MHC-I, LIF, Interleukins 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 11,12A, IFNa and IFNG. Results indicate that B-B7+ cells are quite populous in bovine endometrial tissue, CD4+ and CD8+ -cells are present in moderate numbers and γδTCR+ and CD335+ cells are present in low numbers. Pregnancy affected the total number and distribution pattern of the NK cell population, with the most significant variation observed on Day 16 of pregnancy. Neither B lymphocytes nor T lymphocyte subsets were regulated temporally during the oestrous cycle or by pregnancy prior to implantation. mRNA transcript abundance of the immune factors LIF, IL1b, IL8 and IL12A, IFNa and IFNG, expression was regulated temporally during the estrous cycle and LIF, IL1b, IL-10, IL11, IL12A were also temporally regulated during pregnancy. In conclusion, the endometrial immune profile of the oestrous cycle favours a Th2 environment in anticipation of pregnancy and the presence of an embryo acts to fine tune this environment.