Oral administration of LPS and lipoteichoic acid prepartum modulated reactants of innate and humoral immunity in periparturient dairy cows

Abstract

The study evaluated the effects of repeated oral exposure to LPS and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) on immune responses of dairy cows. Thirty pregnant Holstein cows were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Cows received orally either 2 ml of 0.85% sterile saline solution (control group), or 2 ml of sterile saline solution containing three doses of LPS from Escherichia coli 0111 : B4 along with a flat dose of LTA from Bacillus subtilis. Blood and saliva samples were collected and analyzed for serum amyloid A (SAA); LPS-binding protein (LBP); anti-LPS plasma IgA, IgG and IgM; TNF-α; and IL-1. Results showed greater concentrations of IgA in the saliva of treated cows compared with the controls (P < 0.01). Treated cows had lower plasma concentrations of anti-LPS IgA, IgG and IgM Abs, and TNF-α than the controls (P < 0.05). There was a tendency for the concentrations of plasma LBP (P = 0.06) and haptoglobin (P = 0.10) to be lesser in the treatment group, although no differences were found in the concentration of plasma SAA and IL-1 (P > 0.10). Overall, the results of this study indicate that repeated oral administration with LPS and LTA stimulates innate and humoral immune responses in periparturient dairy cows.

Repeated Oronasal Exposure to Lipopolysaccharide Induced Mucosal IgA Responses in Periparturient Dairy Cows

“…Therefore, inducing humoral immunity against LPS in mucosal tissues before cows are exposed to high loads of LPS after parturition might prepare them immunologically to prevent harmful effects of LPS translocation. This type of immunomodulation potentially might increase production of secretory immunoglobulin-(sIg)A, which is the dominant isotype synthesized by the mucosal immune system for neutralization of antigens at mucosal surfaces [13]–[15].…”

“…Recently, we primed periparturient dairy cows orally with increasing doses of LPS and observed an enhanced response of anti-LPS IgM antibodies in the plasma and improved overall immunity and metabolic health status [15]–[17]. In addition, a study in rats indicated that oral treatment with LPS provides protection against sepsis by increasing concentrations of anti-LPS IgM antibodies [18].…”

Bacterial Endotoxins and Their Role in Periparturient Diseases of Dairy Cows: Mucosal Vaccine Perspectives

“…Given that the major sources of bacterial endotoxins are mucosal sites, it is important to boost the mucosal immune system in order to prevent translocation of these compounds. Conventional vaccines are typically administered subcutaneously or intravenously, which poorly stimulate the mucosal immune system, while mucosal application can not only increase immune exclusion at the mucosa through stimulation of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) production but also stimulate the systemic immune system as well [12,13]. A pilot study conducted by our team showed that oral administration of increasing doses of LPS with a flat dose of LTA to periparturient dairy cows stimulated innate and humoral immune responses [13].…”

“…Conventional vaccines are typically administered subcutaneously or intravenously, which poorly stimulate the mucosal immune system, while mucosal application can not only increase immune exclusion at the mucosa through stimulation of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) production but also stimulate the systemic immune system as well [12,13]. A pilot study conducted by our team showed that oral administration of increasing doses of LPS with a flat dose of LTA to periparturient dairy cows stimulated innate and humoral immune responses [13]. Additional studies by our team utilizing LPS alone also observed the stimulation of humoral immune responses during oral administration [13,14] as well as changes to the concentration of plasma metabolites and minerals in periparturient dairy cows during oral or oronasal administration [15,16].…”

“…A pilot study conducted by our team showed that oral administration of increasing doses of LPS with a flat dose of LTA to periparturient dairy cows stimulated innate and humoral immune responses [13]. Additional studies by our team utilizing LPS alone also observed the stimulation of humoral immune responses during oral administration [13,14] as well as changes to the concentration of plasma metabolites and minerals in periparturient dairy cows during oral or oronasal administration [15,16]. While previous studies have demonstrated promise in using mucosal vaccination of dairy cows with LPS and LTA to reduce periparturient disease there has been no investigation of the benefit to combining both mucosal and parenteral vaccination [13][14][15][16].…”