Title
Brief Research Report: Expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in T Lymphocytes and Their Relationship With the Periparturient Period and the Endometrial Cytology of Dairy Cows During the Postpartum Period
Date Issued
22 July 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Souza C.M.S.d.
Lima E.d.S.
Ordonho R.F.
Oliveira B.R.R.d.S.
Rodrigues R.C.
Moura M.F.d.
Lima D.M.
Blagitz M.G.
Medeiros I.A.d.
Souza F.N.
Fernandes A.C.d.C.
Publisher(s)
Frontiers Media S.A.
Abstract
The present study sought to evaluate the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in blood T lymphocytes during the periparturient period and their relationship with uterine health in dairy cows, as determined by endometrial cytology and serum concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), which are indicators of a negative energy balance. The second objective of this study was to investigate whether the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in T lymphocytes is associated with the serum acute phase-protein haptoglobin concentration during the periparturient period. To address these objectives, 26 clinically healthy dairy cows were used. Peripheral blood was collected 14 days prepartum (T-14), at calving (T0), and 30 days postpartum (T30) to measure the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in blood T lymphocytes by flow cytometry. In addition, we collected blood at T0, 10 days after parturition (T10), and T30 to obtain serum and determine the serum concentrations of NEFA, BHB, and Hp. Endometrial cytology was performed at T10, 20 days after parturition (T20), and T30. In the present study, we observed higher expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1 in T lymphocytes at parturition and in the prepartum period, which could indicate a relationship between these immune checkpoints and immunological tolerance during gestation in dairy cattle. In addition, a negative association between the expression of these immune checkpoints prepartum or at parturition and endometrial cytology at T20 and T30 was observed, indicating the negative implications of these immune response regulators in susceptibility to infections. This finding was further corroborated by the relationship between the serum concentration of haptoglobin and the expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1 by T lymphocytes. However, we did not observe a relationship between the indicators of negative energy balance, evaluated by the serum concentrations of BHB and NEFA, and the expression of the immune checkpoint markers studied. Thus, our findings represent an initial step that paves the way for the development of new therapeutic alternatives directed by the host with the objective of increasing the resistance of dairy cattle to infections in this critical period of life.
Volume
9
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencia animal, Ciencia de productos lácteos
Ciencia veterinaria
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85135484187
Source
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
ISSN of the container
22971769
Sponsor(s)
CS is grateful to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-CAPES for her scholarship. The authors would also like to thank Empresa Paraibana de Pesquisa, Extensão Rural e Regularização Fundiária-Estação Experimental de Alagoinha, Paraíba, for kindly providing the animals for this study.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus