Intracellular Ca2+ signaling and ORAI calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 are associated with hepatic lipidosis in dairy cattle

By Anne Zinn

A study recently published in the Journal of Animal Science investigated the role of ORAI calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 on hepatic lipidosis via endoplasmic reticulum stress in dairy cows. Fatty liver is a common metabolic disorder affecting dairy cows during the periparturient period and is closely associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress. The onset of endoplasmic reticulum stress in humans and mice alters hepatic lipid metabolism, but it is unknown if the same event contributes to fatty liver in dairy cows soon after parturition. The well-established link between high concentrations of fatty acids and the onset of fatty liver and ketosis led the research team  to hypothesize that there is in fact an association that Ca2+ signaling induced endoplasmic reticulum stress, and then lead to lipidosis in bovine hepatocytes. 

Overall, results of the present study suggested that non-esterified fatty acids through ORAI calcium release-activated calcium modulator 1 regulate intracellular Ca2+ signaling, induce endoplasmic reticulum stress, and lead to lipidosis in isolated hepatocytes. These results underscore the existence of a mechanism regulating lipidosis in bovine liver.

The full paper can be found on the Journal of Animal Science webpage.