The Correlation between Extracellular Heat Shock Protein 70 and Lipid Metabolism in a Ruminant Model

Metabolic stress in early lactation cows is characterized by lipolysis, ketogenesis, insulin resistance and inflammation because of negative energy balance and increased use of lipids for energy needs. In this study the relationship between lipid metabolite, lipid-based insulin resistance, and hepatocyte functionality indexes and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) with extracellular heat shock protein 70 (eHsp70) was investigated. The experiment included 50 cows and all parameters were measured in blood serum. In cows with a more pronounced negative energy balance, the following was determined: a higher concentration of eHsp70, TNF-alpha, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), NEFA to insulin and NEFA to cholesterol ratio and lower concentration of cholesterol, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and liver functionality index (LFI). The eHsp70 correlated negatively with the values of cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, and triglycerides, while correlated positively with the level of NEFA and BHB. A higher concentration of eHsp70 suggests the development of fatty liver (due to a higher NEFA to cholesterol ratio and lower LFI) and insulin resistance (due to a lower revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index RQUICKI-BHB and higher NEFA to insulin ratio). The eHsp70 correlated positively with TNF-alpha. Both TNF-alpha and eHsp70 correlated similarly to lipid metabolites. In cows with high eHsp70 and TNF-alpha values we found higher concentrations of NEFA, BHB, NEFA to insulin and NEFA to cholesterol ratio and a lower concentration of triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol compared to cows that had only high TNF-alpha values. Based on the positive correlation between eHsp70 and TNF-alpha, their similar relations, and the additional effect of eHsp70 (high TNF-alpha + eHsp70 values) on lipid metabolites we conclude that eHsp70 has pro-inflammatory effects implicating lipolysis, fatty liver, and fat tissue insulin resistance.