title: Target gene expression signatures in neutrophils and lymphocytes from cattle administered with dexamethasone at growth promoting purposes.
abstract: The glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX), when used as a growth promoter, cause morphological and functional alterations in cattle lymphoid organs and cells. In the present experiment, the transcriptional effects of an illicit DEX protocol upon six target genes were investigated in cattle neutrophils (NEU) and lymphocytes (LFC). Blood samples were taken before (T(0)) and 2, 3, 10, 19, 31 and 43 days from the beginning of DEX administration (T(1)-T(6)). Leukocytes were counted and cells isolated by gradient centrifugation; then, glutathione peroxidase 1 and 3 (GPX1 and GPX3), glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRα), l-selectin, nuclear factor κB, subunit p65 (NFκB) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) mRNA amounts were measured through a quantitative Real Time RT-PCR approach. A significant change vs controls in NEU/LFC ratio was noticed from T(3) forward. Compared to T(0), DEX significantly increased to a variable extent all candidate gene mRNAs abundances in NEU; in contrast, only l-selectin, GRα and GPX1 were significantly up-regulated in LFC. Present results suggest that illicit DEX affects transcription in cattle immune cells, that might be considered as a promising surrogate tissue for the screening of DEX abuse in cattle farming.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Sanità pubblica, Patologia comparata ed Igiene veterinaria, viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Agripolis Legnaro (Padova), Italy.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lopparelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giantin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozza
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ravarotto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montesissa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dacasto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000032:analysis; D019087:Selectins / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D019087:Selectins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C411470:glucocorticoid receptor alpha; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1