HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 72/2/266    most recent biolreprod.104.029835v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by He, H. Articles by Croy, B. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by He, H. Articles by Croy, B. A. Agricola Articles by He, H. Articles by Croy, B. A.

Characterization of a Murine Alpha 2 Macroglobulin Gene Expressed in Reproductive and Cardiovascular Tissue¹

Departments of Biomedical Sciences³ Pathobiology,⁴ University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Labatts Brain Tumor Research Center,⁵ Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8 Experimental Genetics Group,⁶ Department of Human Genetics, K.U. Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

Full-length cDNA for a mouse gene A2-macroglobulin induced by pregnancy (A2mp) was cloned from mesometrial decidua at Gestation Day 10. The 4622-base pair cDNA encodes a protein of 1473 AA with >70% sequence identity and all typical domains of other A2M-family members in humans and rodents, despite unique absence of hepatic expression. The bait region is most distinct and has the greatest sequence similarity with rat acute-phase A2m. Northern blotting, reverse transcription and real-time-PCR, and in situ hybridization studies using C57Bl/6 mice revealed uterine induction of A2mp during decidualization and strong, midgestational association with modifying spiral arteries. Ovaries, testes, lactating mammary glands, heart, and kidney were the only additional organs with A2mp expression that was localized to granulosa and cumulus cells in secondary follicles; primary seminiferous epithelium, including Sertoli cells, mammary alveolar, and ductal epithelium; cardiac endothelium; and renal collecting tubules, respectively. Infusion of native human A2M into pregnant alymphoid or interferon-gamma gene-ablated mice overcame blocks to pregnancy-induced spiral artery modification in these strains. Activated human A2M was also effective, suggesting mechanisms independent of proteinase inhibition. Identification of cytokines, growth factors, or other molecules bound to A2MP should provide new insights into decidualization, spiral artery modification, and cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy.

¹ Supported by awards from the Natural Science and Engineering Council, Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Vlaanderen (FWO-Vlaanderen).

² Correspondence: B. Anne Croy, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6. FAX: 613 533 2566; croya{at}post.queensu.ca