早孕因子的研究进展及应用前景

早孕因子(EPF)是一种免疫抑制性的调节因子,目前普遍认为它是热激蛋白家族成员伴侣蛋白10 的同系物,是最早确认妊娠的生化标志之一,可用花环抑制试验做生物学鉴定。EPF的可用于预测早期胚胎发育情况,帮助了解妊娠母体对胚胎的识别,免疫耐受等机制。早孕因子的发现及研究在生殖生物学领域中具有非常重要的意义。

Reaserch Progress and Application of Early Pregnancy Factor

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) was first described as a pregnancy-associated substance and its discovery created considerable interest as it enabled the detection of a potential pregnancy within 6 to 24 h of fertilization in all species tested.EPF has been identified as a homologue of chaperonin 10 (cpn10) with immunosuppressive and growth factor properties.EPF can be bioassayed using the rosette inhibition test .It is the earliest serum benchmark to date of positive fertilization and thus conception. EPF in serum has been shown to be a marker of the presence of a viable embryo.Application of EPF will be wide.