Comparative proteomic analysis of livers from ketotic cows

The aim of this study was to examine molecular pathways activated in the liver of the ketotic cow to gain further understanding of the pathogenic effects of ketosis. We used two-dimensional-electrophoresis (2D-E) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) tandem mass spectrometry to compare the liver proteomic profile between ketotic and normal cows. Thirty-eight different proteins were identified between these groups by 2D-E gel. These proteins play a role in energy metabolism, carbohydrate degradation, fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, antioxidation, cell structure, nucleotide metabolism, and protein metabolism. This is the first time the majority of these proteins have been reported in cow ketosis. Possible explanations for the differential expression patterns and their relevance to the pathogenesis of ketosis in the cow are discussed. This study is the first to provide a detailed insight into protein expression patterns in the liver of the ketotic cow, and the different proteins involved in the pathogenesis of bovine ketosis.