cDNA Microarray Analysis Reveals that Antioxidant and Immune Genes Are Upregulated During Involution of the Bovine Mammary Gland

Changes in mRNA levels of oxidative stress factors A) superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), metallothionein 1A (MT1A), and spermidine/spermine N¹-acetyltransferase (SSAT); and B) cytosolic selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (cGPX) and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) during involution in mammary alveolar tissue of lactating cows (n=6 per time point). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM and P-values (*P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001) are relative to 6-h time point for respective genes.

A) Changes in mRNA levels of innate immune factors lactoferrin and lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP) during involution in mammary alveolar tissue of lactating cows (n=6 per time point). Data are expressed as mean±SEM and P-values (*P<0.05) are relative to 6-h time point for respective genes. B) Changes in protein levels of lactoferrin during involution (n=6 per time point). Western analysis shows a representative sample at each time point (n=1). Data are expressed as mean fold changes with the SED, and P-value (***P<0.001) is relative to the 6-h time point.

Changes in protein levels of β1-integrin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) during involution in mammary alveolar tissue of lactating cows (n=6 per time point). Western analysis shows a representative sample at each time point (n=1). Data are expressed as mean fold changes with the SED, and P-values (⁺P<0.1; *P<0.05) are relative to 6-h time point for β1-integrin.

A) Changes in mRNA levels of milk proteins α_S1-CN, β-CN, κ-CN; and B) α-LA and β-LG during involution in mammary alveolar tissue of lactating cows (n=6 per time point). Data are expressed as mean±SEM and P-values (*P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001) are relative to the 6-h time point for respective genes. C) Changes in protein levels of α-LA and β-LG during involution (n=6 per time point). Western analysis shows a representative sample at each time point (n=1). Data are expressed as mean fold changes with the SED, and P-values (⁺P<0.1; *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001) are relative to 6-h time point for respective proteins.