Brief Research Report: Expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in T Lymphocytes and Their Relationship With the Periparturient Period and the Endometrial Cytology of Dairy Cows During the Postpartum Period

The present study sought to evaluate the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in blood T lymphocytes during the periparturient period and their relationship with uterine health in dairy cows, as determined by endometrial cytology and serum concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), which are indicators of a negative energy balance. The second objective of this study was to investigate whether the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in T lymphocytes is associated with the serum acute phase-protein haptoglobin concentration during the periparturient period. To address these objectives, 26 clinically healthy dairy cows were used. Peripheral blood was collected 14 days prepartum (T-14), at calving (T0), and 30 days postpartum (T30) to measure the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in blood T lymphocytes by flow cytometry. In addition, we collected blood at T0, 10 days after parturition (T10), and T30 to obtain serum and determine the serum concentrations of NEFA, BHB, and Hp. Endometrial cytology was performed at T10, 20 days after parturition (T20), and T30. In the present study, we observed higher expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1 in T lymphocytes at parturition and in the prepartum period, which could indicate a relationship between these immune checkpoints and immunological tolerance during gestation in dairy cattle. In addition, a negative association between the expression of these immune checkpoints prepartum or at parturition and endometrial cytology at T20 and T30 was observed, indicating the negative implications of these immune response regulators in susceptibility to infections. This finding was further corroborated by the relationship between the serum concentration of haptoglobin and the expression of CTLA-4 and PD-1 by T lymphocytes. However, we did not observe a relationship between the indicators of negative energy balance, evaluated by the serum concentrations of BHB and NEFA, and the expression of the immune checkpoint markers studied. Thus, our findings represent an initial step that paves the way for the development of new therapeutic alternatives directed by the host with the objective of increasing the resistance of dairy cattle to infections in this critical period of life

Estudo morfológico de complexo Cumulus oophorus ovinos obtidos de folículos antrais em diferentes fases do ciclo estral da gestação

Um estudo morfológico foi realizado em complexos cumulus oophorus de ovinos (CCOs), a fim de caracterizá-los durante as fases de proestro e dietro do ciclo estral, e durante diferentes períodos de gestação. CCOs foram colhidos a partir de folículos antrais (3-6 mm) com citoplasma regular, levemente granulado e com múltiplas camadas de células do cúmulus (CCO Grau I). Fixados em glutaraldeído e incluso em parafina, e seccionado em cortes de 5 μm. O volume médio dos oócitos com e sem zona pelúcida foram maiores nas fases de proestro, havendo redução desses volumes nas fases de diestro, G30 e G60, respectivamente. No entanto, foi observado que na fase de proestro o volume do núcleo foi inferior quando comparado aos núcleos das fases de diestro, G30 e G60. A zona pelúcida apresentou-se mais delgada à medida que no volume do oócito aumentou. As células do cumulus e seus respectivos núcleos mantiveram os volumes inalterados durante todas as fases estudadas. Houve diferença significativa quando comparado o volume dos tipos de células do cumulus em todas as fases. Também foram observados e classificados vários tipos (C1, C2 e C3) de células do cumulus, na fase de proestro houve uma maior proporção de células do tipo C3, seguido de significativa redução desse tipo de célula nas fases de diestro, G30 e G60. Já o tipo de célula C1 e C2 foram mais frequentes no grupo G60. Conclui-se que a morfologia das células do cumulus, da zona pelúcida, do citoplasma e do núcleo de complexo cumulus oophorus de folículos antrais ovinos apresenta-se morfologicamente distinta de acordo com as fases do ciclo estral e gestação.It was carried out a morphological study on Oocyte Cumulus Complex of sheep (COCs), in order to characterize them quantitatively, both during the proestrus and diameter phases of the estrous cycle, as during different periods of the gestation. COCs were collected from antral follicles (3-6 mm) with regular, slightly grainy and multiple layers of cumulus cytoplasm (COC Grade I) fixed on glutaraldehyde and embedded in paraffin, as well as sectioned into sections of 5 μm. The principle of the nucleator was used to estimate average volumes of oocytes, cumulus cells and their nuclei. The thicknesses of the pellucida zone, as well as the numerical percentages of different types of cumulus cells were evaluated. There was a synchronous increase of the volume of the oocyte and its nucleus from diestrus to proestrus phases. Concerning the ones collected in the gestation stages, there was a parameter volume reduction as the pregnancy progresses. The thickness of the pellucida zone was reduced during the periods approaching ovulation. Three types of cumulus cells were observed (C1-C3). The results suggest that cumulus cells respond to circulating hormone levels during the estrous cycle and gestation