INTERFERON-GAMMA GENE-EXPRESSION IN CYCLING AND PREGNANT MOUSE UTERUS- TEMPORAL ASPECTS AND CELLULAR-LOCALIZATION

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that modulates hematopoietic cell maturation, differentiation, activation, and apoptosis, To evaluate the postulate that locally produced IFN-ga mma could influence uterine hematopoietic cells, specific protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and messenger RNA (mRNA) was identifi ed by in situ hybridization in cycling and pregnant mouse uteri, In cy cling uteri, IFN-gamma was limited to luminal and glandular epithelial cells during the estrus phase of the cycle. In pregnant uteri, IFN-ga mma was prominent at early (gestation day 6-10) and late (gestation da y 18) stages. IFN-gamma-producing cells identified by in situ hybridiz ation included uterine epithelial cells, natural killer cells, macroph ages, placental trophoblast cells, and cells in the degenerating metri al gland, Collectively, the data indicate that programming of immune a nd other cells via autocrine and paracrine pathways could be achieved by locally produced IFN-gamma, and suggest that uteroplacental IFN-gam ma may be most influential during early and late stages of pregnancy.