Changes in endometrial transcription of TLR2, TLR4, and CD14 during the first-week postpartum in dairy cows with retained placenta

Endometrial transcription of microbial molecular patterns receptors in Gyr and F1 Holstein x Gyr postpartum cows

“…A recent study with Holstein postpartum cows demonstrated higher transcription levels of TLR4 and CD14, which are relevant receptors for sensing lipopolysaccharide endotoxin of Gram negative bacteria. Cows with placental retention had statistically significant decreases of these two transcripts between the first and the seventh day postpartum (Martins et al, 2016). Absence of risk factors such as twin pregnancy, dystocia, retained placenta, and early postpartum ovulation may have contributed to low occurrences of infections and rapid uterine involution in Gyr and F1 groups in the current study.…”

“…Hypothetically, decreased transcription of TLR5 could increase susceptibility to flagellated bacteria in Gyr cows at 7 days post partum, whereas increased transcription of TLR9 could be associated with resistance against bacteria located intracellularly in the endosomal compartment (Janeway and Medzhitov, 2002). Importantly, a recent study described profiles of endometrial transcription of pathogen receptors in Holstein postpartum cows (Martins et al, 2016), which seems to be distinct from these observed in Gyr and F1 cows.…”

“…In this study, only one F1 cow developed metritis in the first week postpartum, which suggests that uterine immunity was sufficient to prevent acute infections. Until 42 days postpartum, Gyr and F1 cows had lower incidences of uterine infections compared to that reported for Holstein cows (Sheldon et al, 2009;Martins et al, 2013Martins et al, , 2016. A recent study with Holstein postpartum cows demonstrated higher transcription levels of TLR4 and CD14, which are relevant receptors for sensing lipopolysaccharide endotoxin of Gram negative bacteria.…”

“…Mann Whitney's test was used to compare delta Ct values between Gyr and F1 cows, whereas the Wilcoxon's test was used to compare delta Ct values between the two time points postpartum. A difference of 3.3 Cts (n) between the target gene and β-actin or GAPDH corresponded to 10 n time's lower numbers of the target gene (Martins et al, 2011;2016;Silva et al, 2012). Non-parametric correlation of Spearman was used to correlate endometrial gene transcription levels with uterine involution.…”

“…Conversely, Zebu and Holstein x Zebu crossbred cows have lower incidences of postpartum uterine infections (Sánchez et al, 1999;Camargos et al, 2013). Endometrial transcription of TLRs, NODs, and other immune mediators has been investigated in the postpartum period of Holstein cows (Herath et al, 2009;Chapwanya et al, 2009;Martins et al, 2011;2016), but it is completely unknown in Gyr or Holstein x Gyr cows. A better comprehension of the molecular mechanisms by which cows detect and respond to uterine infections may lead to improved therapeutic tools.…”