title: Expression of fatty acid sensing G-protein coupled receptors in peripartal Holstein cows.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR), also referred as Free Fatty Acid Receptors (FFAR), are widely studied within human medicine as drug targets for metabolic disorders. To combat metabolic disorders prevalent in dairy cows during the transition period, which co-occur with negative energy balance and changes to lipid and glucose metabolism, it may be helpful to identify locations and roles of FFAR and other members of the GPCR family in bovine tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) of subcutaneous adipose, liver, and PMNL samples during the transition period (-10, +7, and +20 or +30 d) were used for expression profiling of medium- (MCFA) and long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) receptorsGPR120andGPR40, MCFA receptorGPR84, and niacin receptorHCAR2/3. Adipose samples were obtained from cows with either high (HI; BCS ≥ 3.75) or low (LO; BCS ≤ 3.25) body condition score (BCS) to examine whether FFAR expression is correlated with this indicator of health and body reserves. Supplementation of rumen-protected methionine (MET), which may improve immune function and production postpartum, was also compared with unsupplemented control (CON) cows for liver and blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) samples. In adipose tissue,GPR84andGPR120were differentially expressed over time, whileGPR40was not expressed; in PMNL,GPR40was differentially expressed over time and between MET vs. CON,GPR84expression differed only between dietary groups, andGPR120was not expressed; in liver, GPCR were either not expressed or barely detectable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that there is likely not a direct role in liver for the selected GPCR during the transition period, but they do play variable roles in adipose and PMN. In future, these receptors may prove useful targets and/or markers for peripartal metabolism and immunity.
authors.affiliation: Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
authors.forename: Alea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.affiliation: Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alharthi
authors.affiliation: Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vailati-Riboni
authors.affiliation: Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801 USA.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Loor
keywords: Inflammation; Methionine; Neutrophils; Transition cow