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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168911
Title: PROTEOMIC SURVEY OF BOVINE NEUTROPHILS

Author
item Lippolis, John
item Reinhardt, Timothy

Submitted to: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2004
Publication Date: 1/10/2005
Citation: Lippolis, J.D., Reinhardt, T.A. 2005. Proteomic survey of bovine neutrophils. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 103(1-2):53-65.

Interpretive Summary: Infection of the udder (mastitis) is a major economic problem for the dairy industry. White blood cells are what fight infections. The birth of a calf causes white blood cells to have a reduced ability to fight infection. To better understand what causes the reduced function of the white blood cells, we are using a new technology called proteomics. Proteomics is the identification of proteins made in a cell. We have identified over 250 proteins from cow white blood cells using a piece of equipment called a mass spectrometer. Many of the proteins identified help give the cell the energy needed to fight infections. Also, proteins for the white blood cell were identified that kill bacteria. Many white blood cell proteins were found that cause the cell move from the blood to the udder when there is an infection. The next stage of this research will focus on the identification of proteins in white blood cells whose amounts change due to birth of a calf. This information will help us better understand and fight mastitis in the dairy industry.

Technical Abstract: Mastitis is a major economic concern for the dairy industry. Conditions such as parturition cause a transient immunosuppression that leads to increased incidence of mastitis. Concomitant with the periparturient immunosuppression is a functional impairment of the blood and milk neutrophils in dairy cows. To better understand the biology of the bovine neutrophil we report the first proteomic analysis of the bovine neutrophil. We have identified over 250 proteins using one-dimensional electrophoresis followed by reverse-phase chromatography in line with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. A large number of metabolic proteins were identified, including most of the enzymes required for generation of NADPH and ATP. In addition, many proteins were identified that participate in cell mobility and phagocytosis. All of the bovine members of the cathelicidin family were identified, as well as other proteins with immunological functions. The aim of this study was to obtain an overview of a bovine neutrophil proteome as a foundation for further studies of the bovine proteome.