Pags

PAGs is an acronym with multiple meanings across different disciplines. This article provides brief overviews of two common uses and notes that the intended meaning depends on context.

In reproductive biology, PAGs stands for pregnancy-associated glycoproteins. These are a family of placental glycoproteins produced by trophoblast cells and released into the maternal bloodstream during pregnancy in many artiodactyls, including cattle and sheep. PAGs are used as biomarkers for pregnancy detection and monitoring, measurable by immunoassays in blood or milk. The PAG gene family is large and diverse, with individual members exhibiting different expression patterns and, in some cases, purported roles in placental development and maternal immune modulation. The precise functions of PAGs can vary by species and gene.

In political and public affairs contexts, PAGs can refer to political advocacy groups or public affairs groups. Such organizations aim to influence public policy and decision-making, often through lobbying, policy research, public campaigns, and coalition-building. PAGs differ from political action committees in structure, though both engage in policy influence. They may focus on specific issues, industries, or constituencies, and their activities are shaped by regulatory regimes governing lobbying and disclosure.

In other contexts, PAGs may be used informally to denote groups organized around a particular purpose. Because the acronym spans several fields, the intended meaning should be inferred from surrounding text or clarified by definition.