Interferon Tau (IFNt) and Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISGs) Expression in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes and Correlation with Circulating Pregnancy-Associated Glycoproteins (PAGs) during Peri-Implantation and Early Pregnancy in Buffalo Cows

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and interferon tau (IFNt) gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes during the peri-implantation period and until 40 days of pregnancy in buffalo cows. Relationships were also examined between the expression of ISGs and IFNt and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) peripheral plasma concentration. Buffalo cows were synchronized and artificially inseminated (d 0). Blood samples were collected on days 0, 18, 28 and 40 after artificial insemination (AI) for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) isolation and PAGs radioimmunoassay analysis. The study was carried out on 21 buffalo cows divided ex post into Pregnant (n = 12) and Non-pregnant (n = 9) groups. Steady state levels of OAS1, MX2, ISG15 and IFNt mRNA were measured by RT-qPCR and their estimated marginal means (p OAS1 and MX2 expressions differed between pregnant and non-pregnant buffaloes on all the days of observation (p ISG15 and IFNt started from day 28 post-AI (p ISG15 expression differed between groups only at days 18 and 28 (p IFNt (p ISG15 as determined in PMNs, was positively associated with PAGs plasma concentrations (p ISGs and IFNt expressions in PBMCs and PMNs in buffalo during the peri-implantation period and early pregnancy, and their correlation with PAGs plasma concentration.

Keywords

• interferon-stimulated genes (<i>ISGs</i>)
• PBMCs
• PMNs
• <i>IFNt</i>
• PAGs
• pregnancy