Gene expression signatures in neutrophils exposed to glucocorticoids: a new paradigm to help explain "neutrophil dysfunction" in parturient dairy cows.

Neutrophils are the first line of immunity against most pathogens that infect cattle. These normally short-lived white blood cells develop from myeloid-lineage cells in bone marrow. Upon maturation, bone marrow neutrophils are released into the circulation where they marginate on inflamed blood vessel endothelial cells and migrate through them into the area of infection. Once migrated, neutrophils do not reenter the circulation, but rather, perform their bactericidal functions and die by apoptosis in the tissue. The cytokine and hormonal milieu of the blood and extracellular tissue fluid can influence neutrophil development and immunity-related activities, but the molecular basis of these phenotypic changes and physiological benefits or drawbacks of them are poorly understood. In the current paper, we review new gene expression information that resulted from two of our functional genomics studies designed to evaluate effects of glucocorticoid hormones on bovine neutrophils. This work provides one model to describe complex changes that occur in neutrophils as the cells respond to glucocorticoids, which might act to alter the cells' functional priorities and tip the delicate balance between health and disease during stress, including at parturition. A bovine immunobiology microarray and real time RT-PCR were used to study blood neutrophils collected during the natural surge of endogenous glucocorticoid (cortisol) in parturient dairy cows and bone marrow neutrophils collected from glucocorticoid (dexamethasone)-treated dairy steers. The gene expression signatures we observed led us to perform additional phenotyping of the neutrophils and correlation analyses, which together painted a picture suggesting that glucocorticoids have key roles in modulating neutrophil development, life span, and tissue defense functions during parturition and hormone therapy. Based on these observations, we postulate that glucocorticoids orchestrate adaptive changes in the entire neutrophil system that support increased cell numbers and longevity in blood and heightened remodeling activity in tissues, while at the same time decreasing some important antimicrobial defense activities of the cells. Thus, our functional genomics studies have enabled us to elucidate multiple consequences of neutrophil exposure to glucocorticoids, highlighting a probable role for this interaction in the induction of parturition and partly explaining why some parturient dairy cows may experience heightened incidence and severity of inflammatory diseases like mastitis.

Immunorelevant gene expression in LPS-challenged bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Infection of the bovine mammary gland, in addition to causing animal distress, is a major economic burden of the dairy industry. Greater understanding of the initial host response to infection may lead to more accurate selection of resistant animals or to novel prophylactic or therapeutic intervention strategies. The epithelial cell plays a role in the host response by alerting the immune system to the infection and providing a signal as to where the infection is located. To understand this process better, a cDNA microarray approach was used to search for potential signals produced by mammary epithelial cells in response to exposure to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Total RNA from separate cultures of epithelial cells from 4 Holstein cows was harvested 6 h after LPS challenge or control conditions. For each cow, RNA from control or LPS-exposed cells was transcribed to cDNA and labeled with Cy3 or Cy5, then pooled and applied to a bovine total leukocyte (BOTL) microarray slide containing 1278 unique transcripts. Dye reversal was used so that RNA from two of the control cultures was labeled with Cy3 while RNA from the other two control cultures was labeled with Cy5. From the resulting microarray data we selected 4 of the 9 genes significantly (P < 0.02) induced (>1.25-fold) in response to LPS exposure for more detailed analysis. The array signal intensity for 3 of these genes, RANTES/CCL5, IL-6 and T-PA, was relatively low, but quantitative real-time RT-PCR (Q-RT-PCR) analysis revealed that they were induced 208-fold, 10-fold and 3-fold, respectively. The gene that showed the greatest fold induction by microarray analysis (2.5-fold) was CXCL5. This gene had a relatively strong signal intensity on the array and was easily detected by northern blot analysis, which indicated a 10-fold induction. This cell culture model system provides evidence for an important role of the mammary epithelial cell in initiating the innate response to infection.

Enhancing capacity for risk factor surveillance at the regional/local level: a follow-up review of the findings of the Canadian Think Tank Forum after 4 years.

BACKGROUND: National health surveys are sometimes used to provide estimates on risk factors for policy and program development at the regional/local level. However, as regional/local needs may differ from national ones, an important question is how to also enhance capacity for risk factor surveillance regionally/locally. METHODS: A Think Tank Forum was convened in Canada to discuss the needs, characteristics, coordination, tools and next steps to build capacity for regional/local risk factor surveillance. A series of follow up activities to review the relevant issues pertaining to needs, characteristics and capacity of risk factor surveillance were conducted. RESULTS: Results confirmed the need for a regional/local risk factor surveillance system that is flexible, timely, of good quality, having a communication plan, and responsive to local needs. It is important to conduct an environmental scan and a gap analysis, to develop a common vision, to build central and local coordination and leadership, to build on existing tools and resources, and to use innovation. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the Think Tank Forum are important for building surveillance capacity at the local/county level, both in Canada and globally. This paper provides a follow-up review of the findings based on progress over the last 4 years.