Complement Factor B Deficiency Is Dispensable for Female Fertility but Affects Microbiome Diversity and Complement Activity.

ABSTRACT: Complement factor B (CFB) is a crucial component for the activation of the alternative pathway due to the formation of the C3 convertase with C3b, which further produces C3b to enhance the overall complement activity. Although Cfb is expressed not only in the immune tissues, but also in the reproductive tract, the physiological role of the alternative complement pathway in reproduction remains unclear. In this study, we addressed this issue by producing Cfb-knockout (KO) mice and analyzing their phenotypes. Sperm function, number of ovulated oocytes, and litter size were normal in KO mice. In contrast, the diversity of microbiomes in the gut and vaginal tract significantly increased in KO mice. Some serine protease activity in the serum from KO mice was lower than that of wil

SUBMITTER: Sunamoto M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11818189 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature