Altered expression of systemic and ovarian factors involved in the recruitment and activation of immune cells in bovine cystic ovarian disease

Despite the involvement of both immune cells and soluble factors in the etiopathogenesis of cystic ovarian disease (COD), the precise interplay between these components in this reproductive condition remains unclear. Based on this, in the present study we aimed to evaluate the expression of key molecules involved both locally and systemically in the recruitment, infiltration and activation of immune cells in Holstein cows diagnosed with follicular cysts (N = 5). For this, animals from commercial dairy farms located in the milk-productive region of Santa Fe, Argentina were included after their diagnosis were confirmed by ultrasonographic examination and hormonal evaluation. Healthy animals in proestrus, after G6G-Ovsynch hormonal synchronization, were used as controls (N = 5). Protein expression of adhesion molecules, along with mRNA expression of chemokine receptors and cytokines were evaluated. In peripheral blood mononuclear cells, gene expression analysis of inflammatory markers showed that TNF and TGFB1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in COD animals. Also, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule was lower in endothelial cells of medullary blood vessels in the COD group. These changes support the hypothesis that alterations in the expression patterns of immune factors, both at systemic and local level, could contribute to the etiopathogenesis of this anovulatory condition.