title: In-vitro indicators of natural resistance and milk-producing ability in dairy buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of detecting novel phenotypes of natural resistance at the molecular level through the in-vitro stimulation of monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). This study was conducted with 16 healthy buffaloes who were reared for milk production and for whom data on milk-producing ability were available for several lactations. MDMs from circulating monocytes were activated with interferon-gamma and lipopolysaccharide. The response was evaluated using Western blotting to detect the presence of 2 types of proteins separated by electrophoresis: tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, which are indicators of the dynamic control of biochemical pathways, and IkB-alpha (Kappa light polipeptide gene enhancer in B-cells Inhibitor, alpha) protein, which controls the activity of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells-a transcription factor that is responsible for the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. The results showed that the buffaloes who were positive for IkB-alpha proteins had a significantly higher milk-producing ability than the buffaloes who did not express IkB-alpha. On the contrary, no significant difference was detected between the high and low milk-producing buffaloes with regard to the presence of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins. This preliminary study indicated that it may be possible to identify the more disease-resistant nonhuman animals on a molecular level. The results, therefore, indicate that an intense selection toward the increase of milk yield could impair natural disease resistance in future dairy buffalo generations.
authors.affiliation: a Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura , Monterotondo (RM) , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miarelli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Signorelli
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000276:immunology*; D003612:Dairying; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007558:Italy; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008892:Milk
keywords: buffalo; milk; natural resistance; welfare
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