Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 induced by interferon tau promotes angiogenesis in bovine endothelial cells

Interferon tau (IFNT), a pregnancy recognition factor in ruminants, maintains the corpus luteum and induces the expression of many genes in the uterus; however, the functions of these genes remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of IFNT on endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) expression, along with the subsequent roles of ESM1 in bovine vascular endothelial cells in an in vitro cell culture environment. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis showed that IFNT treatment significantly increased the expression levels of ESM1 in endometrial epithelial cells compared with those in non-treated control cells. qPCR and Western blot analyses showed an increasing trend in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression following ESM1 treatment in bovine vascular endothelial cells. In addition, ESM1 treatment tended to increase cell proliferation and significantly increased the formation of tube-like structures of endothelial cells compared to those in non-treated control cells. These results suggest that IFNT induces ESM1 expression in endometrial epithelial cells. Moreover, ESM1 may contribute to angiogenesis via the expression of angiogenic factors, such as VEGF, in bovine endothelial cells.