Full text

Turn on search term navigation

© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Simple Summary

Mastitis, a common ailment affecting dairy cows, carries significant economic implications. Common treatments with synthetic antimicrobials face challenges due to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. This article focuses on a vital component of the immune system: bovine β-defensin peptides. These naturally-occurring antimicrobial agents produced by cows exhibit strong activity against pathogens that cause mastitis. The efficiency of these peptides in preventing and treating infections of the mammary glands can be improved by knowing how they are controlled and what part they play in the immune system. This study tries to illuminate a possible route for creating novel, natural, antibacterial treatments for dairy cattle in the future and minimizing dependency on synthetic antimicrobials. Furthermore, by exploring the expression routes and factors affecting β-defensin expression, the potential to improve immunity and reduce the need of synthetic antimicrobials is emphasized. We also point out areas that need more research and indicate current gaps in the literature.

Abstract

β-Defensins are cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that play an important role in the innate immune defense of bovines. They are constitutively expressed in mammary glands and induced differently in response to pathogens. Their expression is influenced by various factors, including hormones, plant-derived compounds, and dietary energy imbalance. The toll-like receptors (TLRs)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway plays a crucial role in β-defensin induction, while alternative pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and epigenetic regulation also make substantial contributions. β-Defensins exhibit bactericidal activity against a wide range of pathogens, including two major mastitis pathogens, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), primarily through membrane disruption. β-Defensins have low cytotoxicity to host cells and demonstrate immunomodulatory properties, and pathogens also display minimal resistance to these AMPs. Given the increasing concern in antimicrobial resistance, the potential of β-defensins as natural antimicrobials has garnered considerable attention. This article provides an overview of the characteristics of bovine β-defensins, their expression pathways, their mode of action, and factors influencing their expression in the mammary glands of cattle. Additionally, it identifies the current gaps in research within this field and suggests areas that require further investigation. Understanding the regulation and function of β-defensins offers valuable insights to develop effective strategies for strengthening the immune system of mammary glands, reducing the reliance on synthetic antimicrobials, and explore novel natural antimicrobial alternatives.

Details

Title
Expression, Regulation, and Function of β-Defensins in the Bovine Mammary Glands: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives
Author
Daneshi, Mojtaba 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Caton, Joel S 1 ; Caixeta, Luciano S 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Eftekhari, Zohre 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ward, Alison K 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA 
 Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA; [email protected] 
 Biotechnology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran; [email protected] 
 Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada; [email protected] 
First page
3372
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20762615
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2888037064
Copyright
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.