Maternal supplementation with cobalt sources, folic acid, and rumen-protected methionine and its effects on molecular and functional correlates of the immune system in neonatal Holstein calves

Abstract

Calves born to multiparous Holstein cows fed during the last 30 d of pregnancy 2 different cobalt sources [cobalt glucoheptonate (CoPro) or cobalt pectin (CoPectin)], folic acid (FOA), and rumenprotected methionine (RPM) were used to study neonatal immune responses after ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Groups were (n = 12 calves/ group) CoPro, FOA+CoPro, FOA+CoPectin, and FOA+CoPectin+RPM. Calves were weighed at birth and blood collected at birth (before colostrum), 21 d of age, and 42 d of age (at weaning). Growth performance was recorded once a week during the first 6 wk of age. Energy metabolism, inflammation, and antioxidant status were assessed at birth through various plasma biomarkers. Whole blood was challenged with 3 µg/mL of LPS or used for phagocytosis and oxidative burst assays. Target genes evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR in whole blood samples were associated with immune response, antioxidant function, and 1-carbon metabolism. The response in mRNA abundance in LPS challenged versus nonchallenged samples was assessed via ∆ = LPS challenged − LPS nonchallenged samples. Phagocytosis capacity and oxidative burst activity were measured in neutrophils and monocytes, with data reported as ratio (percentage) of CD14 to CH138A-positive cells. Data including all time points were subjected to ANOVA using PROC MIXED in SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc.), with Treatment, Sex, Age, and Treatment × Age as fixed effects. A 1-way ANOVA was used to determine differences at birth, with Treatment and Sex as fixed effects. Calf birth body weight and other growth parameters did not differ between groups. At birth, plasma haptoglobin concentration was lower in FOA+CoPro compared with CoPro calves. We detected no effect for other plasma biomarkers or immune function due to maternal treatments at birth. Compared with CoPro, in response to LPS challenge, whole blood from FOA+CoPectin and FOA+CoPectin+RPM calves had greater mRNA abundance of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1). No effect for other genes was detectable. Regardless of maternal treatments, sex-specific responses were observed due to greater plasma concentrations of haptoglobin, paraoxonase, total reactive oxygen metabolites, nitrite, and β-carotene in female versus male calves at birth. In contrast, whole blood from male calves had greater mRNA abundance of IRAK1, CADM1, and ITGAM in response to LPS challenge at birth. The longitudinal analysis of d 0, 21, and 42 data revealed greater bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (BPI) mRNA abundance in whole blood from FOA+CoPectin versus FOA+CoPro calves, coupled with greater abundance in FOA+CoPro compared with CoPro calves. Regardless of maternal treatments, most genes related to cytokines and cytokine receptors (IL1B, IL10, TNF, IRAK1, CXCR1), toll-like receptor pathway (TLR4, NFKB1), adhesion and migration (ICAM1, ITGAM), antimicrobial function (MPO), and antioxidant function (GPX1) were downregulated over time. Phagocytosis capacity and oxidative burst activity in both neutrophils and ...

Bovine neutrophils kill the sexually-transmitted parasite Tritrichomonas foetus using trogocytosis

“…Using previously established centrifugation protocols (Roth and Kaeberle 1981 ), we isolated Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC), and PMNs. After staining our fractionated PBMC or PMN cell fractions using an anti- bovine granulocyte monoclonal antibody (GR-1) (Etchevers et al 2023 ; Lietaer et al 2021 ; Lopes et al 2021 ; Oliveira et al 2020 ), we found that our PMN fraction was viable, and had a PMN identity, as anti-GR-1 reactivity was very high in all of the PMN cells, but few of the PBMC cells (Fig. 1 A).…”

“…Isolated leukocytes were stained with anti- bovine GR-1 antibody to confirm PMN identity, as previously described (Etchevers et al 2023 ; Lietaer et al 2021 ; Lopes et al 2021 ; Oliveira et al 2020 ). Briefly, cells were stained with mouse anti-bovine granulocyte (GR-1) monoclonal IgM primary antibody (clone-CH138A, Kingfisher Biotech), or isotype control (clone-COLIS52A2, Kingfisher Biotech) at a concentration of 1.0 ug/mL, followed by a FITC goat anti-mouse IgM polyclonal secondary antibody (ThermoFisher) at a concentration of 1.5 ug/mL.…”

β-Hydroxybutyrate impairs the release of bovine neutrophil extracellular traps through inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase–mediated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase reactive oxygen species production

“…Peripartal dairy cows are often in a state of negative energy balance (NEB) due to the increase in energy demands and the decrease of DMI (Lopreiato et al, 2020;Bucktrout et al, 2021;Lopes et al, 2021). Severe NEB leads to metabolic disorders including ketosis.…”

Rumen fermentation, methane concentration, and blood metabolites of cattle receiving dietetical phytobiotic and cobalt (II) chloride

“…Trace elements affect the concentration of volatile fatty acids, the pH of the rumen, methane formation, and fermentation in the rumen of ruminants [12]. Adding cobalt to animal diets improves the digestibility of feed fiber in the rumen [13], increases the immunity of animals [14], and increases the concentration of B12 vitamin [15].…”