Effects of precalving body condition and prepartum feeding level on gene expression in circulating neutrophils

Abstract

Extensive metabolic, physiological, and immunological changes are associated with calving and the onset of lactation. As a result, cows transitioning between pregnancy and lactation are at a greater risk of metabolic and infectious diseases. The ability of neutrophils to mount an effective immune response to an infection is critical for its resolution, and increasing evidence indicates that precalving nutrition affects postpartum neutrophil function. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the effect of 2 precalving body condition scores (BCS; 4 vs. 5 on a 10-point scale) and 2 levels of feeding (75 vs. 125% of estimated maintenance requirements) on gene expression in circulating neutrophils. We isolated RNA from the neutrophils of cows (n = 45) at 5 time points over the transition period: precalving (-1 wk), day of calving (d 0), and postcalving at wk 1, 2, and 4. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR with custom-designed primer pairs and Roche Universal Probe Library (Roche, Basel, Switzerland) chemistry, combined with microfluidics integrated fluidic circuit chips (96.96 dynamic array), were used to quantify the expression of 78 genes involved in neutrophil function and 18 endogenous control genes. Statistical significance between time points was determined using repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer multiple-testing correction to determine treatment effects among weeks. Precalving BCS altered the inflammatory state of neutrophils, with significant increases in overall gene expression of antimicrobial peptides (BNBD4 and DEFB10) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10, and significantly decreased expression of proinflammatory cytokine IL23A in thinner cows (BCS 4) compared with cows calving at BCS 5. Feeding level had a time-dependent effect on gene expression; for example, increased expression of genes involved in leukotriene synthesis (PLA2G4A and ALOX5AP) occurred only at 1 wk postcalving in cows overfed (125% of requirements) precalving compared with those offered 75% of maintenance requirements. Results indicate that precalving body condition and changes in prepartum energy lead to altered gene expression of circulating neutrophils, highlighting the importance of transition cow nutrition for peripartum health.

Association between body condition score change during the dry period and postpartum health and performance

“…Contreras et al (2004) demonstrated that cows with BCS ≤3 at dry off gained BCS during the dry period and were less likely to have retained fetal membranes compared with cows with BCS ≥3.25 at dry off. Cows managed from late gestation to 21 d before the expected calving date to be thinner (2.75 vs. 3.25) had neutrophils with reduced inflammatory state and an enhanced capacity for microbial destruction (Crookenden et al, 2017). Kadivar et al (2014) suggested, however, that reduced BCS 2 wk prepartum was associated with increased incidence of clinical endometritis, but change in BCS from 2 wk prepartum to 2 or 4 wk postpartum was not associated with clinical endometritis.…”

The relationship between transition period diseases and lameness, feeding time, and body condition during the dry period

“…Based on our findings and those ones described by Chebel et al (2018), it seems that monitoring BCS throughout lactation with the goal of achieving moderate BCS at dry-off may be beneficial for transition health. This strategy has been tested in grazing cows by comparing cows that had their BCS experimentally manipulated to achieve moderate BCS at dry-off to cows that had slightly higher BCS at dry-off; the animals with lower BCS had better metabolic (Roche et al, 2015) and immune status (Crookenden et al, 2017) during the transition period.…”

Recent Strategies to Enhance Fertility in Farm Animals: An Overview

“…Hence, the over-mobilization of body stores during the period of NEB ( Negative Energy Balance) is a key factor for disease susceptibility in modern dairy cattle ( Crowe et al, 2018). Researchers have reported that the immune system of cows under metabolic stress is further reduced, demonstrating a relationship between metabolic status and peripartum immune function (Crookenden et al, 2017).…”