Chronic Inflammatory Lameness Increases Cytokine Concentration in the Spinal Cord of Dairy Cows

Abstract

Lameness in dairy cows is an extremely painful multifactorial condition that affects the welfare of animals and economically impacts the dairy industry worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the profile of cytokines in the spinal cord dorsal horn of dairy cows with painful chronic inflammatory lameness. Concentrations of 10 cytokines were measured in the spinal cord of seven adult dairy cows with chronic lameness and seven adult dairy cows with no lameness. In all cows lameness was evaluated using a mobility scoring system and registered accordingly. Immediately after euthanasia the spinal cord was removed and 20 cm of lumbar segments (L2-L5) were obtained. After dorsal horn removal and processing, cytokine quantification of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1α), interleukin 13 (IL-13), chemokine-10 (CXCL10/IP-10), chemokine-9 (CXCL9/MIG), interferon-alpha (IFN-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-21 (IL-21), interleukin-36ra (IL-36ra), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (MIP-1β) was performed using a multiplex array. Lame cows had higher concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1-α, IL-13, CXCL10, CXCL9, IFN-α, and IFN-γ in their dorsal horn compared to non-lame cows, while IL-21 concentration was decreased. No differences in IL-36ra and MIP-1β concentrations between lame and non-lame cows were observed. Painful chronic inflammation of the hoof in dairy cows leads to a marked increase in cytokine concentration in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, which could represent a state of neuroinflammation of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Serum Health Biomarkers in African and Asian Elephants: Value Ranges and Clinical Values Indicative of the Immune Response

“…Across species, researchers have explored different cytokines in relation to similar pathology. For example, chronically lame dairy cows exhibited higher concentrations of TNF-α and IFN-γ [ 60 ], horses with laminitis had increases in both Th1 and Th2 cytokines [ 61 ], vervet monkeys ( Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus ) with osteoarthritic changes secrete increased amounts of inflammatory cytokines [ 62 ], and dogs with pododermatitis had significant over-expression of IL-6 and IL-10 [ 63 ]. Furthermore, cytokine over-expression can play a role in both rheumatoid [ 64 ] and osteoarthritis [ 65 ], and cytokine-modulating treatments are utilized in humans [ 66 ] and some animal species [ 67 , 68 ].…”

Changes in Saliva Analytes Associated with Lameness in Cows: A Pilot Study

“…This study has various limitations. Although previous publications evaluating lame cows used a similar number of animals than in this report [7,33], it should be considered a pilot study due to the relatively low number of animals used and the inclusion of only dairy breeds. In addition, only lameness produced by non-infectious causes were included.…”

The Neuroimmune Interface and Chronic Pain Through the Lens of Production Animals

“…Disease associated states of chronic pain are a concerning welfare issue in farmed animals, such as dairy cattle. Lameness causes chronic inflammatory pain that severely affects welfare and reduces production in livestock ( Ley et al, 1995 ; Whay and Shearer, 2017 ; Herzberg et al, 2020b ; Steagall et al, 2021 ). Repeated or sustained trauma and wear of the hoof leads to inflammation involving the release of cytokines by immune cells.…”

“…Several of the detrimental effects of chronic pain in humans, including anxiety, depression and cognitive impairments could also occur in animals, and would negatively affect productivity and welfare. Research into the long-lasting effects of painful husbandry procedures in livestock is limited ( Viñuela-Fernández et al, 2007 ; Herzberg et al, 2020b ; Small et al, 2021 ). However, growing interest in improving the welfare of animals is driving further investigation of the long-term consequences of various husbandry practices and chronic disease in livestock ( Troncoso et al, 2018 ; Larrondo et al, 2019 ; Sandercock et al, 2019 ; Herzberg et al, 2020a ).…”