Functional and transcriptomic profiling of bovine circulating neutrophils during in vitro lipopolysaccharide challenge across different energetic states

Peripartum dairy cows experience energy shortages that impair immunity. We examined how different concentrations of glucose and fatty acids affect immune cells (neutrophils) exposed to a bacterial toxin in vitro. High glucose increased neutrophil overreaction. Low glucose combined with fatty acids suppressed the expression of immune-related genes, potentially impairing infection resistance. These results suggest that different combinations of blood glucose and fatty acids during the peripartum period can trigger immunosuppression or immune stimulation in peripartum dairy cows, making them more susceptible or resistant to infectious diseases.<br>