Single nucleotide polymorphisms, gene expression and serum profile of immune and antioxidant markers associated with postpartum disorders susceptibility in Barki sheep

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the immunological and antioxidant alterations associated with ovine postpartum disorders. Blood samples were collected from 90 adult Barki ewes and allocated into three equal-sized groups (30 ewes each): control group (CG), inflammatory postpartum disorders group (IPG) and non-inflammatory postpartum disorders group (NIPG). PCR-DNA sequencing approach was carried out for TLR4 (256-bp) and SOD (456-bp) genes, and nucleotide sequence variations were noticed to be associated with postpartum disorders resistance/susceptibility. Gene expression profile was also evaluated and levels of IL5, IL6, IL1-ß, TNF alpha, TLR4 and Tollip were significantly up-regulated in ewes affected with postpartum disorders than resistant ones, while SOD and CAT genes pattern elicited an opposite trend. Exploring serum profile also showed a significant increase of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA and NO in IPG compared to their correspond values in NIPG and CG. However, serum levels of IL-10, CAT, GSH and GPx were significantly decreased. This study highlights that SNPs in TLR4 and SOD genes could be genetic markers for postpartum disorders resistance/susceptibility in Barki ewes. Gene expression alongside serum profiles of antioxidant markers could also be used to follow-up the immune status of ewes to build up an effective management protocol.

Keywords:

• Barki sheep
• antioxidants
• immunity
• single nucleotide polymorphisms
• gene expression
• postpartum disorders

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the staff members of Animal Health and Poultry Department, Desert Research Center, Egypt.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The whole experiment was carried out at the cell level, and no animal experiment was involved. Cell experiments were carried out in accordance with the relevant provisions of the laboratory.

Author contributions

Asmaa Darwish and Ahmed El-Sayed conceived, designed the experiment, collected blood samples, performed biochemical analysis and wrote the manuscript. Ahmed Ateya performed PCR-DNA sequencing and real-time PCR and contributed to writing the manuscript. Eman Ebissy analyzed the data and contributed to writing the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.