title: Modulation of the immune system during postpartum uterine inflammation.
abstract: Postpartum uterine inflammation (endometritis) in the dairy cow is associated with lower fertility at both the time of infection and after the inflammation has resolved. We hypothesized that aberrant DNA methylation may be involved in the subfertility associated with uterine inflammation. The objective of this study was to characterize genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression in the endometrium of dairy cows with subclinical endometritis (SCE). Endometrial tissues were obtained at 29 days postpartum (n = 12), and microarrays were used to characterize transcription and DNA methylation. Analyses revealed 1,856 probes differentially expressed in animals with SCE (n = 6) compared with controls (CON, n = 6, P < 0.05, Storey Multiple testing correction) and 2,976 probes with significant correlation between gene expression and bacteriology score. No significant associations among DNA methylation and gene expression were detected. Analysis of transcription data using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified several pathways and processes enriched in SCE cows, with the majority related to the immune response. Furthermore, the top ontology terms enriched in genes that had expression data correlated to bacteriology score were: Defense response, inflammatory response, and innate immune response. Gene expression profiles in cows with subclinical endometritis in this study indicate that the immune response is activated, potentially resulting in a local proinflammatory environment in the uterus. If this period of inflammation is prolonged it could result in tissue damage or failure to complete involution of the uterus, which may create a suboptimal environment for future pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: DairyNZ Limited, Auckland, New Zealand; Caroline.Walker@dairynz.co.nz.
authors.forename: Caroline G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: DairyNZ Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand;
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.affiliation: Cognosco, Anexa Animal Health, Morrinsville, New Zealand; and.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: Cognosco, Anexa Animal Health, Morrinsville, New Zealand; and.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.affiliation: DairyNZ Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand;
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: DairyNZ Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand;
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.affiliation: UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Murray D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004716:Endometritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007107:Immune System; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000276:immunology; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology
keywords: DNA methylation; dairy cow; endometritis; gene expression; inflammation