Evaluation of in vitro Activation of Bovine Endometrial and Vaginal Epithelial and Blood Mononuclear Cells to Produce Nitric Oxide in Response to Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum

Abstract

Genital mycoplasmosis is a condition present in bovine production systems, and the most important agents involved are Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum. Some aspects of their pathogenesis remain unclear. This study was designed in order to evaluate their ability to stimulate mononuclear cells from the endometrium, vagina and peripheral blood of cycling and healthy cows to produce nitric oxide (NO). Cellular cultures of endometrial, vaginal and peripheral blood cells from 33 healthy cows were cultivated with Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Ureaplasma diversum originated from the 4th passage in culture broth and the NO production was measured by the Greiss reaction. Confirmation of the presence of mononuclear cells and of the agents during and after the NO assay was done by Giemsa stained smears and further cultivation and detection by PCR reaction. Mononuclear cells from all samples produced NO. Mycoplasma bovigenitalium stimulated higher NO production than the others (p<0.05). Endometrial cells produced less NO than vaginal or blood cultured cells. In conclusion, it seems that Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, and Ureaplasma diversum are able to activate mononuclear cells and induce the production of NO, thus suggesting that this pathway is elicited in response to the primary infection by these agents. More studies are necessary to verify why these agents remain in the bovine reproductive tract for long periods and how they reassume deleterious effects.

Heterologous Expression, Purification, and Immunomodulatory Effects of Recombinant Lipoprotein GUDIV-103 Isolated from Ureaplasma diversum

“…Our data revealed that bovine PBMC cultures incubated with rGUDIV-103 for 2 and 6 h induced NO and H 2 O 2 production and iNOS expression. Many other Mollicutes, LAMP extracts, and recombinant LAMPs induce NO and H 2 O 2 production in cellular models [ 74 , 75 ]. NO is a multifunctional molecule involved in several physiological and pathological processes and often plays a dual concentration-dependent role.…”

“…U. diversum induces NO production in peritoneal macrophage cultures, associated with a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile [ 76 ]. On inoculation with U. diversum , cells from the bovine endometrium, vagina, and peripheral blood produce NO, suggesting that these cells play a role in the immediate response to Ureaplasma infection [ 75 ]. Low NO concentrations protect cells from apoptosis, whereas excessive NO production triggers apoptosis in several cell types [ 74 , 77 ].…”