Gene network and pathway analysis of bovine mammary tissue challenged with Streptococcus uberis reveals induction of cell proliferation and inhibition of PPARgamma signaling...

TitleGene network and pathway analysis of bovine mammary tissue challenged with Streptococcus uberis reveals induction of cell proliferation and inhibition of PPARgamma signaling...
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsMoyes, KM, Drackley, JK, Morin, DE, Bionaz, M, Rodriguez-Zas, SL, Everts, RE, Lewin, HA, Loor, JJ
JournalBMC Genomics
Volume10
Pagination542
Date Published2009 Nov 19
ISSN1471-2164
KeywordsAnimals, Cattle, Cell Proliferation, Computational Biology, Female, Gene Regulatory Networks, Humans, Lipid Metabolism, Mammary Glands, Animal, Mice, Milk, Polymerase Chain Reaction, PPAR gamma, Signal Transduction, Streptococcal Infections, Streptococcus, Up-Regulation
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Information generated via microarrays might uncover interactions between the mammary gland and Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) that could help identify control measures for the prevention and spread of S. uberis mastitis, as well as improve overall animal health and welfare, and decrease economic losses to dairy farmers. The main objective of this study was to determine the most affected gene networks and pathways in mammary tissue in response to an intramammary infection (IMI) with S. uberis and relate these with other physiological measurements associated with immune and/or metabolic responses to mastitis challenge with S. uberis O140J.

RESULTS: Streptococcus uberis IMI resulted in 2,102 (1,939 annotated) differentially expressed genes (DEG). Within this set of DEG, we uncovered 20 significantly enriched canonical pathways (with 20 to 61 genes each), the majority of which were signaling pathways. Among the most inhibited were LXR/RXR Signaling and PPARalpha/RXRalpha Signaling. Pathways activated by IMI were IL-10 Signaling and IL-6 Signaling which likely reflected counter mechanisms of mammary tissue to respond to infection. Of the 2,102 DEG, 1,082 were up-regulated during IMI and were primarily involved with the immune response, e.g., IL6, TNF, IL8, IL10, SELL, LYZ, and SAA3. Genes down-regulated (1,020) included those associated with milk fat synthesis, e.g., LPIN1, LPL, CD36, and BTN1A1. Network analysis of DEG indicated that TNF had positive relationships with genes involved with immune system function (e.g., CD14, IL8, IL1B, and TLR2) and negative relationships with genes involved with lipid metabolism (e.g., GPAM, SCD, FABP4, CD36, and LPL) and antioxidant activity (SOD1).

CONCLUSION: Results provided novel information into the early signaling and metabolic pathways in mammary tissue that are associated with the innate immune response to S. uberis infection. Our study indicated that IMI challenge with S. uberis (strain O140J) elicited a strong transcriptomic response, leading to potent activation of pro-inflammatory pathways that were associated with a marked inhibition of lipid synthesis, stress-activated kinase signaling cascades, and PPAR signaling (most likely PPARgamma). This latter effect may provide a mechanistic explanation for the inverse relationship between immune response and milk fat synthesis.

DOI10.1186/1471-2164-10-542
Alternate JournalBMC Genomics
PubMed ID19925655
PubMed Central IDPMC2784807
Grant ListR01 GM068946 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States