Non-Infectious Stressors and Livestock Productivity: Molecular Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Strategies for Controlling Immune Response of Ruminants

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammatory responses can be activated by different stimuli that originate a physiological response aimed at restoring homeostasis and controlling the internal constant milieu. The condition of homeostatic inflammation is considered similar to chronic inflammation; however, the question about considering the role of inflammation as a pathogenic or protective response is under debate. The homeostatic inflammation is part of the homeostasis process; however, this persistent damage can increase the exposition to a risk of lethal inflammation. The innate and adaptive responses are strictly interconnected pathways of immune response and contribute concomitantly to protect the organism against pathogens and/or stressors capable of initiating the cascade of immune activation. The innate immune sensors are able to recognize host-derived molecules, namely damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that are directly released from damaged cells to trigger the phagocytosis. Moreover, nondamaged cells are capable of producing endogenous ligands as danger signals, such as fatty acids, phospholipids and nucleic acid leading chronic inflammation and disease. When passing from an innate to an adaptive response, the interactions among phagocytic cells, T-cells, dentritic cells (DC), and regulatory T-cells (Treg) are controlled by different mechanisms, such as intra- extracellular redox environments. The T-cells’ functions are controlled by the equilibrium between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant systems; on the contrary, an exposition to oxinflammation negatively affects immune reactivity, increasing the susceptibility to metabolic diseases. The current scenario of climate change exposes even more animals to environmental change and stressful conditions, with a rise in energy cellular expense for the adaptation process, which contributes to the excess of immune responses and oxidative stress exposition, thus highly compromising reproduction, productive performances and increasing the disease susceptibility of livestock.

We invite original research papers and reviews that address experiments on the understanding of non-infectious stressors and inflammation focusing on novel biomarkers and molecular mechanisms in different tissues both in vivo and in vitro. Research papers and reviews addressing different strategies for improving immune response or control inflammation are welcome.

Dr. Maria Giovanna Ciliberti
Prof. Dr. Mariangela Caroprese
Guest Editors

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• DAMPs
• innate immunity
• livestock
• inflammation
• non-infectious stressors