Anthropoid primate-specific retroviral element THE1B controls expression of CRH in placenta and alters gestation length.

ABSTRACT: Pregnancy and parturition are intricately regulated to ensure successful reproductive outcomes. However, the factors that control gestational length in humans and other anthropoid primates remain poorly defined. Here, we show the endogenous retroviral long terminal repeat transposon-like human element 1B (THE1B) selectively controls placental expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) that, in turn, influences gestational length and birth timing. Placental expression of CRH and subsequently prolonged gestational length were found in two independent strains of transgenic mice carrying a 180-kb human bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA that contained the full length of CRH and extended flanking regions, including THE1B. Restricted deletion of THE1B silenced placental CRH expre

SUBMITTER: Dunn-Fletcher CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6166974 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature