Production of IL-1β, IL-6 and CXCL8 by endometrium of crossbred heifers stimulated with various pathogen-associated molecular patterns.

Uterine bacterial infections are common during the post-partum period of dairy herds and, apparently, incidences in crossbred cattle are less than in Holsteins. The aims of this study were (I) to evaluate production of interleukin 1-β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and chemokine CXCL8 using endometrial explants from Bos indicus crossbred heifers at diestrous, stimulated by various pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), and (II) assess production of these cytokines by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated endometrial explants from heifers when samples were collected at different stages of estrous cycle. In the first experiment, endometrial explants from heifers at diestrous were stimulated by ten-fold serial dilutions of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), triacylated lipopeptide (PAM3) or peptidoglycan (PGN).

Transcription of pattern recognition receptors and abortive agents induced chemokines in the bovine pregnant uterus.

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are important components of the innate immune system whose ligands are specific pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Considering the scarcity of studies on transcription of PRRs in the pregnant uterus of cows, and its response to PAMPs and microorganisms that cause abortion in cattle, this study aimed to characterize the transcription of TLR1-10, NOD1, NOD2 and MD2 in bovine uterus throughout gestation and to investigate the sensitivity of different uterine tissues at third trimester of pregnancy to purified TLR ligands or heat-killed Brucella abortus, Salmonella enterica serotype Dublin (S. Dublin), Listeria monocytogenes, and Aspergillus fumigatus, by assessing chemokine transcription.

Postpartum toll-like receptors and β-defensin 5 mRNA levels in the endometrium of Holstein cows.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and β-defensins are important components of the innate immune system. This study aimed to evaluate endometrial mRNA levels of TLRs (1/6, 2, 4, and 5) and β-defensin 5 in Holstein cows by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Uterine biopsies were performed from 6 to 12 h after parturition, and cows were divided into two groups: (i) cows with placental retention and clinical signs of uterine infection until 45 days postpartum (n=10) or (ii) cows with normal puerperium (n=10).