Comparative Metabolomic Profiling of L-Histidine and NEFA Treatments in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are pivotal in energy metabolism, yet high concentrations can lead to ketosis, a common metabolic disorder in cattle. Our laboratory observed lower levels of L-histidine in cattle suffering from ketosis, indicating a potential interaction between L-histidine and NEFA metabolism. This relationship prompted us to investigate the metabolomic alterations in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) induced by elevated NEFA levels and to explore L-histidine’s potential mitigating effects. Our untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed 893 and 160 metabolite changes in positive and negative models, respectively, with VIP scores greater than 1 and p-values below 0.05. Notable metabolites like 9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic acid were upregulated, while 9-Ethylguanine was downregulated. A pathway analysis suggested disruptions in fatty acid and steroid biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, L-histidine treatment altered 61 metabolites in the positive model and 34 in the negative model, with implications for similar pathways affected by NEFA. Overlaying differential metabolites from both conditions uncovered a potential key mediator, 1-Linoleoylglycerophosphocholine, which was regulated in opposite directions by NEFA and L-histidine. Our study uncovered that both NEFA L- and histidine metabolomics analyses pinpoint similar lipid biosynthesis pathways, with 1-Linoleoylglycerophosphocholine emerging as a potential key metabolite mediating their interaction, a discovery that may offer insights for therapeutic strategies in metabolic diseases.