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Expressions of IL4, IL10, and IFNγ cytokines genes during bacterial mastitis
Rana A Faaz1, Fawziah A Abdullah1
1Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.
Objective:
Many bacteria are involved in causing mastitis in dairy cows. Perfect identification of bacteria is crucial for the appropriate choice of drug for treatment. This study aims to find out the various bacteria that cause mastitis through the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) gene.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 150 mastitis somatic cell samples were tested with bacterial nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) universal primers, targeting the 16S rRNA gene. The primers had both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial specificities. Inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-10), IL-4, and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) expression genes were measured and compared in mastitis-free and mastitis-affected animals.
Results:
Based on the PCR, 70 (46.7%) samples showed positive results. The expression of the IL-10 gene was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in mastitis-affected cows than noninfected animals. Compared to cows diagnosed with clinical mastitis, the IL-4 and IFNγ genes were expressed more strongly in healthy cows (p> < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
Mastitis has been linked to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These genes are strong predictors of mastitis in the states analyzed, as evidenced by the differential expression in mastitis and healthy conditions of the IL-4, IL-10, and IFNγ genes. The genes examined here and others will be the subject of additional research.
Insights
Bacterial identification using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene PCR is vital for dairy cow mastitis treatment. Gene expression analysis of IL-4, IL-10, and IFNγ can help predict mastitis in cows.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Immunology
Background:
- Mastitis in dairy cows is a significant economic concern, often caused by diverse bacterial species.
- Accurate bacterial identification is critical for effective antibiotic selection and treatment strategies.
- The 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) gene is a conserved marker for bacterial identification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify bacteria causing mastitis in dairy cows using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- To investigate the expression patterns of inflammatory cytokine genes (IL-10, IL-4, IFNγ) in mastitis-affected versus healthy cows.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) employing universal primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene was performed on 150 mastitis somatic cell samples.
- Primers were designed for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial detection.
- Expression levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) genes were quantified and compared between mastitis-affected and mastitis-free animals.
Main Results:
- Bacterial DNA was detected in 70 (46.7%) of the tested samples.
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene expression was significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in mastitis-affected cows compared to healthy controls.
- Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) gene expression was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in healthy cows than in those with clinical mastitis.
Conclusions:
- Mastitis in dairy cows is associated with both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections.
- Differential expression of IL-4, IL-10, and IFNγ genes serves as a potential biomarker for mastitis status in cows.
- Further research into these and other genes is warranted for improved mastitis diagnostics and management.
