title: Lipopolysaccharide derived from the digestive tract triggers an inflammatory response in the uterus of mid-lactating dairy cows during SARA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of the current study were to evaluate the inflammatory response in cow uterus and to explore the molecular mechanism triggered by high concentrate-induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in mid-lactating dairy cows. Twelve mid-lactating Holstein cows with an average weight of 455 kg were allocated into two groups subjected to two diets for 18-weeks either a low-concentrate (LC) group containing 4:6 (NDF: NFC) and a high-concentrate (HC) group containing 6:4 (non-forage carbohydrates, NFC): (neutral detergent fiber, NDF) ratio based on dry matter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HC group showed lower ruminal pH and higher lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations in both the rumen and peripheral plasma compared to the LC group. The LPS concentrations in the rumen fluid and the peripheral plasma were found significantly increased in the HC group compared to the LC group. The concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly higher in the HC group compared to the LC group. The uterus of SARA cows revealed elevated mRNA concentrations of nuclear transcription factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which confirmed the presence of inflammation. The occurrence of uterine inflammation was further validated by the increased protein expression of NF-κB-p65 and its active phosphorylated variant in the uterus of SARA cows. Similarly, the inflammatory genes TLR4, LBP, MyD88, TRAF-6, NF-κB, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly upregulated in the uterus of the HC versus the LC group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, the results indicated that LPS derived from the rumen triggered the genes associated with inflammation in the uterus of mid-lactating dairy cows fed a high-concentrate diet, causing endometritis.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahid
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bilal
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Juma Ahamed
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Abaker
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zain
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ul Aabdin
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tianle
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China. xzshen@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiangzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000138:Acidosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007774:Lactation; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012417:Rumen / Q000737:chemistry; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Cow; Immune gene expression; LBP; Lipopolysaccharide; Sub-acute ruminal acidosis