JOAN SHERAR HUNT

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..Collectively, the results indicate that regulation of synthesis of pro-inflammatory molecules by hematopoietic cells in cycling and pregnant uterus comprises a new and potentially critical role for female steroid hormones...

..All six women delivered healthy babies, demonstrating that maternal antibodies to epitopes on sHLA-G do not abrogate pregnancy...

..Both the monkey and the baboon express molecules that are similar but not identical to HLA-G, and may comprise suitable animal models for establishing a central role for these proteins in pregnancy...

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..Ours and other studies indicate that soluble HLA-G proteins may comprise a unique tolerogenic system for establishing local immune privilege during pregnancy...

..Collectively, the data indicate that soluble HLA-G is a critical contributor to immune privilege in pregnancy and imply that this placenta-derived substance may impact other pathways leading to successful reproduction...

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..These findings are consistent with the postulate that leukocyte NO contributes importantly to events associated with successful pregnancy that are likely to include relaxation of vascular smooth muscle...

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..Therefore, encounters between decidual antigen presenting cells and HLA-G molecules are likely to influence uterine and placental homeostasis as well as local maternal immune responses to the fetus during pregnancy...

..The data are consistent with the postulate that NO derived from uterine leukocytes and other types of cells plays a role in uterine cyclicity and preparation for pregnancy...

..Detection of nearly all the death-inducing TNF superfamily ligands and their receptors in human placentae implies that these powerful cytokines contribute to programmed or activated cell death in this organ...

..Collectively, the observations support the postulate that receptor expression is the key factor which determines the nature and extent of TNF-alpha effects on trophoblast cell growth and function...

..These results indicate that NOS-2 has a functional role in the maintenance of decidual cellular integrity and development of appropriate uterine vasculature, and may play a supportive role in promoting embryo survival...

..These studies document that the positioning of B7-H1 at the maternal-fetal interface is such that it could participate in suppression of activated maternal leukocytes...

..Collectively, these findings are consistent with a major role for TNF in mouse reproduction and development and with a potential compensatory function for this potent polypeptide factor in CSF-1 deficiency...

..The results of this study are consistent with the postulate that FLIP proteins have critical roles in placental cell survival and suggest that FLIP may protect normal and transformed trophoblast cells from cell death...

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..Thus, multiple cell types in cyclic mouse uteri express the gene encoding TNF-RI, and expression in specific cells is controlled by female steroid hormones...

..By contrast, their differentiation, including transcription and translation of the cytotoxic molecule perforin, was shown to rely on normal expression of the NOS-2 gene...

..Collectively, the results are consistent with a role for the TRAIL/TRAIL-R system in the establishment of placental immune privilege...

..These results and the identification of an adhesion molecule-expressing trophoblastic cell line should facilitate future studies on the function of adhesion molecules in placental development...

..These observations are consistent with the idea that FasL at the maternal-fetal interface protects the placenta against a maternal leukocytic influx that reduces fertility...

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..Here, evidence for this intriguing dichotomy is presented, unresolved aspects are discussed, and potential roles for uteroplacental and embryonic tumor necrosis factor are proposed...

..In summary, the results of this study indicate that both epithelial and stromal cells contain TNF mRNA and protein and that E2 and P4 exert individual influences on the cell-specific expression of TNF transcripts and protein...

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..These results are consistent with the working hypothesis that spermatids release TNF alpha, which is detected by Sertoli cells and may serve as a paracrine factor, regulating an as yet unidentified process in spermatogenesis...

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..We used Paan-AG-specific primers to amplify Paan-AG transcripts from baboon placenta, and generated Paan-AG isoform-specific polyclonal antibodies for use in immunohistochemistry...

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..We describe methods developed in our laboratory to distinguish mRNAs encoding HLA-G5 and HLA-G6, and antibody-based protocols for identification of the soluble isoforms...

..The resulting cytotrophoblast cell populations have excellent viability and purity, and may be subjected to long-term culture...

..The results are consistent with this molecule may influencing female immune receptivity to sperm and suggest that such immunosuppression could be disturbed in men with prostatic adenocarcinomas...

..Patterns of placental expression of receptors suggest bidirectional maternal-fetal cytokine communication...

..Further, the regulation of this immunomodulator by oxygen may implicate its alteration during and involvement in the pathogenesis of complications of pregnancy such as preeclampsia...

..Only the unfractionated decidual cells secreted TGF-beta1. These results suggest that activation, differentiation, and decidual signals cooperate to program monocytes into the decidual macrophage phenotype...

..Because of the structural similarities and common features of organ-specific expression and splicing of the message, studies on Paan-AG may be of value in dissecting the functions of the class Ib proteins in human pregnancy...

..These results reveal that inhibitory HLA receptors are expressed in decidual macrophages and suggest that HLA-G may deliver negative signals to maternal decidual macrophages through interaction with these receptors...

..Thus, this molecule may be the functional homologue of HLA-G, and these two species may comprise appropriate models for elucidating the function of HLA-G...

..Conversely, B7-2 was absent on trophoblasts and was appropriately localized to fetal and maternal macrophages, which may participate in antigen presentation...

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..In summary, the data are consistent with the postulate that placental CTB cells are protected from LIGHT-mediated apoptosis by both soluble receptor, DcR3, and cIAP-2...

..Collectively, the results are consistent with the postulate that environmental programming of decidual macrophages may be dictated in part by their proximity to soluble HLA-G-producing fetal cytotrophoblast cells...

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..Thus, our findings are consistent with the postulate that the natural beta2m-free homodimeric form of HLA-G5 synthesized in primary vCTB cells could comprise a particularly effective tolerogenic molecule at the maternal-fetal interface...

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..Potential targets are discussed and presented as areas where researchers may identify novel pharmacological and immunological strategies that eventually will extend to the clinic to improve the quality and success of pregnancy...

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..Approximately one in ten couples experiences fertility problems, and preterm labor is a common condition where pregnancy is terminated. Both conditions are costly in personal and financial terms. ..

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..In building a distinguished center of research in cell and developmental biology in Kansas, the K-INBRE vigorously pursues all three of these key strategies. ..

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..We expect markedly to improve our chances of bringing Kansas's biomedical research to a new, higher level by implementing these highly innovative programs for trainees and faculty. ..

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..In building a distinguished center of research in cell and developmental biology in Kansas, the K-INBRE vigorously pursues all three of these key strategies. ..