Changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells’ mRNA expression of TLRs and CD14 during puerperal metritis in dairy cattle

Document Type : Full paper (Original article)

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Graduated from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), commonly referred to as lymphocytes and monocytes, representing cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Aims: To find out whether changes in PBMCs’ mRNA expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are associated with puerperal metritis in Holstein cows. Methods:‏ Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 20 cows with puerperal metritis and 20 cows without metritis at 10 days postpartum. Expression of toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4), and cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) genes were assessed in PBMCs using a quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) technique. The data was normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as a reference gene, and 2-∆∆Ct methodology was used for relative quantification. Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that the expression of TLR4 (P=0.04) and CD14 (P=0.008) was significantly greater in cows with puerperal metritis compared to the control group. However, the expression of TLR2 (P=0.06) was not significantly different between cows with puerperal metritis and healthy cows. Conclusion: This study suggests that puerperal metritis significantly increases the expression of TLR4 and CD14 genes in the PBMCs which contributes to the proper stimulation of inflammation and uterine clearance of bacteria soon after calving.

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