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Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BOVINE INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO INTRAMAMMARY INFECTION WITH KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE

Author
item Bannerman, Douglas
item Paape, Max
item Hare Jr, William
item HOPE, JAYNE - INSTITUTE FOR ANIMAL HEAL

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/2004
Publication Date: 7/23/2004
Citation: Bannerman, D.D., Paape, M.J., Hare Jr, W.R., Hope, J.C. 2004. Characterization of the bovine innate immune response to intramammary infection with klebsiella pneumoniae. Journal of Dairy Science. 87(8):2420-2432.

Interpretive Summary: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen that induces mastitis. Antibiotic treatment of mastitis induced by this pathogen remains sub-optimal. The ability of bacteria to establish infection is due to both innate properties of the bacteria, itself, and the ability of the host to mount an immune/inflammatory response to the bacteria. This study characterizes the innate immune response of cows to intramammary infection with Klebisella pneumoniae and increases our understanding of mammary host defense mechanisms. Further, this study identifies temporal relationships between the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mammary inflammatory responses that occur during infection.

Technical Abstract: Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for almost one-half of the clinical cases of mastitis that occur annually. Of those Gram-negative bacteria that induce mastitis, Klebsiella pneumoniae remains one of the most prevalent. Detection of infectious pathogens and the induction of a pro-inflammatory response are critical components of host innate immunity. The objective of the current study was to characterize the bovine innate immune response to intramammary infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. The pro-inflammatory cytokine response and changes in the levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP), two proteins that contribute to host recognition of Gram-negative bacteria, were studied. The contralateral quarters of seven late-lactating Holstein cows were challenged with either saline or Klebsiella pneumoniae, and milk and blood samples collected. Initial increases in the chemoattractants C5a and IL-8, as well as TNF-alpha, were evident in infected quarters within 16 h of challenge and were temporally coincident with increases in milk somatic cells. Augmented levels of TNF-alpha and IL-8 were observed in infected quarters until > 48 h post-challenge, respectively. In contrast, elevated levels of IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-gamma, which were first detected between 12 and 20 h post-infection, persisted in infected quarters throughout the study (> 96 h). Initial increases in milk LBP and sCD14 were detected 16 and 20 h, respectively, after challenge. Together, these data demonstrate that intramammary infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae elicits a host response characterized by the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and elevation of accessory molecules involved in LPS recognition.