The effect of staphylococcal infection on cathelicidin and β-defensin mRNA levels in epithelial cells lining the mammary gland cistern

14 May 20264 min read0 viewsJournal Feed

GIST (Key Takeaways)

IntroductionThe bovine mammary gland employs epithelial defenses against bacterial invasion, including a bilayer columnar epithelium lining the lactiferous sinuses and mucosal folds at the inner end of the teat canal. The aim of this in vivo study was to compare mRNA transcript levels of selected β-defensins and cathelicidins in mammary gland cistern lining epithelial cells (MGCLEC) derived from the whole healthy udders and those naturally infected with coagulase-positive (CoPS, Staphylococcus aureus) or coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS, several strains).Methods. The expression of selected genes was analyzed using RT-qPCR.
Followed by: 'TATA box-binding protein (TBP) and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase1 (HPRT1) were used as reference genes. Results and discussionNo expression of TAP, CATHL4 or CATHL6 was detected in the tested samples. For all other genes, a significant interaction between infection status and parity was observed.
While BNBD1 expression remained low, BNBD4 showed the highest transcription levels among defensins, particularly in older cows (lactations 3–4). Significant upregulation of BNBD5 was noted in the CoPS (S. aureus) group compared to CoNS.
LAP transcription was significantly higher in CoPS (S.

Clinical Editorial

Summary

Frontiers in Immunology published a clinical update in Infectious Disease on 14 May 2026.

The item focuses on The effect of staphylococcal infection on cathelicidin and β-defensin mRNA levels in epithelial cells lining the mammary gland cistern.

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