Determination of TH1 and TH2 cytokine polarization according to parturition type in dairy cows

The study aimed to determine the polarization of T helper (Th) 1 and Th2 cytokines in cows during normal parturition and dystocia. We utilized 180 cows divided into two groups – normal parturition (NP) and dystocia (D). During the second stage of parturition, blood samples were taken from the cows. We then measured the concentrations of Th1 (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukin (IL)-2,) and Th2 (IL-5, IL-10, IL-4) cytokines in both groups using a commercial ELISA kit (Bio-Tek Instruments; USCN Life Science). Normality analysis was performed between the two groups, then independent t-test was performed for data that met parametric assumptions, while Mann Whitney U test was performed for data that did not meet parametric assumptions. Our findings indicate that the levels of TNF-α (67.20 ± 9.95 pg/mL), IL-2 (519.55 ± 60.15 pg/mL), IL-5 (151.33 ± 94.28 pg/mL) (P˂0.001); IL-4 (915.84 ± 53.56 pg/mL), IL-10 (298.70 ± 19.80 pg/mL) (P˂0.01) in the D group significantly decreased in comparison to the NP group. The study found no significant difference in serum IFN-γ levels between the NP and D groups. (P˃0.05). In analyzing the Th1/Th2 polarization balance in cows with NP, it concluded that this balance shifted towards Th2. As a result, it was derived that boosting humoral immunity would be apt, by implementing measures in this direction.