Fig. 4: Transcriptional changes in E5.5 and E6.5 Blimp1 mutant decidua.

a RNA-Seq analysis of Blimp1 mutant and wild-type decidua at E5.5 and E6.5. Principal component analysis based on the expression of all genes (n = 34,245) clearly separates samples according to stage and Blimp1 genotype. The most pronounced transcriptional differences between the genotypes are observed at E6.5. b Over-represented gene categories among ≥2-fold up-(n = 703) and down-(n = 458) regulated genes in E6.5 mutants based on GO Biological process with affinity propagation as analysed using Webgestalt 2019 with Benjamini-Hochberg multiple testing correction. c Differential expression of Prl genes and Timp3 in E6.5 mutants. Prl genes that are selectively (Prl8a2) or predominantly expressed (Prl3c1 and Prl6a1) in decidual cells at early stages of gestation are decreased. In contrast, P-TGC restricted Prl genes (Prl3d1, 3d2 and 3d3, and Prl7a1 at this stage of gestation) are upregulated. The PDZ-associated Timp3 gene is downregulated. d GSEA comparing DESeq2 FDR-ranked genes in E6.5 mutants with uterine progesterone and oestrogen target genes^58,59. Downregulated gene expression in E6.5 Blimp1 mutants significantly correlates with both progesterone- and oestrogen-target genes. **FDR p = 0.024. ***FDR p = 0.000. e Multiple IFNγ-inducible genes are upregulated in E6.5 Blimp1 mutant decidua. Ifnγ is increased in Blimp1 mutant decidua but due to low level of expression was excluded from RNA-Seq analysis based on the FPKM ≥ 1 minimum level filter. f QPCR analysis confirms significant upregulation of Ifnγ transcripts in E6.5 Blimp1 mutant decidua. Data from four samples per genotype are shown. Bars represent mean. Two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test *p = 0.0289. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.