Unraveling the Adipose Tissue Proteome of Transition Cows through Severe Negative Energy Balance

Abstract

Simple Summary: This work described the analysis of differential protein expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue of cows that went under negative energy balance during peripartum. In particular, to the best of our knowledge, it represented an original proteomics study that was able to discriminate cows in negative energy balance up to one month before calving. We believed that our findings would open new perspectives to improve animal welfare during peripartum. To know in advance, the metabolic status of cows would permit to correct the status with appropriate measures, like diet or management.Abstract: Fat mobilization in high-yielding dairy cows during early lactation occurs to overcome negative energy balance (NEB), caused by insufficient feed intake and the concomitant increased nutritional requirements. For this reason, adipose tissue represents an essential organ for healthy and performant lactation. However, only a few data are known about adipose tissue proteome and its metabolic status during peripartum. The aim of this study was to analyze the differential proteomics profiles of subcutaneous adipose tissue belonging to cows with different NEB scores (low NEB and severe NEB). Both groups were analyzed at three different time points (one month before calving, one and sixteen weeks after calving) that were related to different levels and rates of adipose tissue mobilization. The dataset highlighted the differential expression of the same four key proteins (annexin A2, actin-related protein 10, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and fatty acid-binding protein) involved in lipid metabolism during all time points and of other 22 proteins typical of the other comparisons among remaining time points. The obtained dataset suggested that the individual variability in adipose tissue metabolism/mobilization/energy availability could be linked to the different outcomes in levels of energy balance and related physical complications among dairy cows during peripartum.

Prediction of the Secretome and the Surfaceome: A Strategy to Decipher the Crosstalk between Adipose Tissue and Muscle during Fetal Growth

“…Other proteins were annotated by GO terms related to the cytokine-mediated signalling pathway, which is consistent with the large number of cytokines related to the post-natal muscular [ 20 ] and AT growth in bovines [ 20 , 47 , 48 ]. Of these proteins, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) is an adapter protein that provides a critical link between cell surface growth factor receptors and the downstream signalling pathways.…”

Proteomic analysis of adipose tissue revealing differentially abundant proteins in highly efficient mid-lactating dairy cows

“…The AT, as the major energy reserve in mammals, plays a crucial role in the successful establishment and support of lactation 25 . The AT proteome is extremely useful for better understanding the complex factors that control overall metabolism in high-yielding dairy cows 26 . Because of AT's metabolic importance, we hypothesized that variations in FE and energy expenditure (as measured by RFI) would be reflected in the AT proteome.…”