International journal of molecular sciences.
Publisher:
MDPI,
Frequency: 24 issues per year, 2019-
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Author(s):
Molecular Diversity Preservation International., Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
Start Year:2000 -
ISSN:
1422-0067 (Electronic)
1422-0067 (Linking)
1422-0067 (Linking)
Impact Factor
5.6
2022
| NLM ID: | 101092791 |
| (OCoLC): | 46479933 |
| Coden: | IJMCFK |
How Inflamed Is the Horse in Training? Insights into Exercise-Induced Acute Phase Response in Endurance Horses. The article aimed to review the current literature analysing the complexity of an exercise-induced acute phase response in athletic horses undergoing intense training and endurance competitions. Since the endurance discipline demands physical fitness, exceptional health and excellent adaptation to an increasing workload, diagnostic methods of assessing the factors mentioned above are highly required. Athletic horses in endurance training undergo numerous metabolic but also immune adaptations, including changes in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels. The inflammatory reaction...
Activation of the S100A8/A9 Alarmin Amplifies Inflammatory Pathways in Equine Ascending Placentitis. Ascending placentitis is a significant cause of equine pregnancy loss, yet the upstream inflammatory triggers are poorly defined. Recently, we identified S100A8/S100A9 (S100A8/A9) alarmins as potential upstream regulators in a chronic equine placentitis model. The current study aimed to determine whether this upregulation is sustained in the acute model and in clinical cases, and to elucidate the expression of their downstream inflammatory mediators. Using an experimental model, we quantified mRNA expression in acute ( = 5) and chronic ( = 6) placentitis induced by ssp. . We found mRNA expre...
Cross-Species Analysis of Transcriptomic Response to Alpha-Herpesvirus Infection in Human, Bovine and Equine Cells. Comparative transcriptomics offers a powerful approach to elucidate host-virus interactions across related pathogens, yet systematic evaluations across species-matched cellular systems remain limited. We performed a cross-species RNA sequencing analysis of respective species' cells infected with three alphaherpesviruses-herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), and equid alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)-to dissect conserved and virus-specific transcriptional responses. We show that certain orthologous genes and orthologous pathways are differentially regulated upon infection...
Exosome and miRNA Content Engagement in the Physical Exercise Response: What Is Known to Date in Atheltic Horses? To date, there is extensive scientific evidence affirming that physical exercise plays a fundamental role in both the prevention and treatment of various pathological conditions in humans as well as in animals. It is understood that the advantages of movement and exercise have a multifactorial origin and they depend on a category of bioactive molecules vehicolated by extracellular microvesicles known as exosomes. The exosomes act as potential delivery systems for messages within the organism. These findings have drawn significant attention, leading researchers to further investigate the role o...
Genome-Wide Characterization of the HOX Gene Family: Evolution and Expression Patterns in Donkey. The gene family plays an indispensable role in regulating embryonic development, cell differentiation, and morphogenesis. This study employed bioinformatics approaches for systematic analysis, ultimately identifying 33 gene family members from the donkey genome. Physicochemical property analysis revealed that the number of amino acids encoded ranged from 94 to 444, with 31 members classified as alkaline proteins. Their secondary structure was predominantly composed of random coils and alpha helices, and all members were localized to the nucleus. Conserved motif analysis further demonstrated ...
Transcriptomic Insights into Tumor Necrosis Factor α’s Role in the Fibrosis-Related Processes of Equine Endometrial Fibroblasts. Equine endometrosis is a chronic degenerative condition of the endometrium. A hallmark feature of endometrosis is endometrial fibrosis accompanied by degenerative changes in the adjacent tissue structure. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), a pleiotropic cytokine produced by various immune cells, plays a dual role in coordinating immune responses and regulating cell/tissue homeostasis, making it an important regulator of fibrotic-related disorders. However, the exact role of TNFα in the development of equine endometrial fibrosis remains to be discovered and explained. Therefore, the main aim of...
Synovial Fluid and Serum MicroRNA Signatures in Equine Osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum and synovial fluid (SF) samples of control horses and those with osteoarthritis (OA) to identify potential candidates for biomarkers of disease. Total RNA was extracted from serum and SF samples of control (n = 4) and OA (n = 9) horses and sequenced. Differential expression analysis, pathway analysis and miRNA target prediction were performed. A group of six miRNAs (eca-miR-199a-3p, eca-miR-148a, eca-miR-99b, eca-miR-146a, eca-miR-423-5p and eca-miR-23b) was selected for validation in an independent coho...
Does the Relationship Between Microelements (Copper, Zinc and Selenium) and Proinflammatory Proteins (IL-6, IL-8 and Tissue Factor) Have Diagnostic Value in Equine Medicine? Some correlations between serum Cu, Zn and Se and cytokines have been reported in humans. Especially, the Cu:Zn ratio corresponded with inflammation. To date, relationships between microelements and proinflammatory proteins are poorly understood in horses. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether Cu, Zn and Se may influence turnover of IL-6, IL-8 and tissue factor (TF) in breeding and working horses. Blood samples obtained from 66 horses were analysed. There were 37 pregnant broodmares of different breeds, 13 barren broodmares and 16 race Thoroughbred horses. Serum Cu, Zn and Se concentrat...
Connections Between Gene Polymorphism and Fetlock and Hock Measurements in Polish Sport Horses. Finding the causative mutations for musculoskeletal system development and health status is of a higher priority for all sport horse breeders' associations. Of the regulating proteins involved in animal ossification, 15 gene polymorphisms were chosen to be identified as connected with the nine fetlock and 14 hock bone structures measurements of 198 horses. All measurements were taken using X-rays of the limbs, which were available at the beginning and end of the horse training. The analysis of variance (GLM, SAS program) was performed taking into account identified training and horse-connected...
Cushing’s Disease in the Animal Kingdom: Translational Insights for Human Medicine. Cushing's disease (CD) is a rare neuroendocrine disorder caused by ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas, presenting significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Given the evolutionary conservation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, this review explores the translational value of spontaneous CD forms in dogs, horses, cats, small mammals, and rats, as well as of experimental models in mice, rats, and zebrafish. Dogs are the most studied, showing strong molecular and clinical similarities with human CD, making them valuable for preclinical drug and diagnostic research. While equine an...
Genetic Diversity of Equid Herpesvirus 5 in Temporal Samples from Mares and Their Foals at Three Polish National Studs. Equid herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5) comprises a group of heterogeneous viruses with a worldwide distribution. Primary infection typically occurs early in life, which is followed by latency and periodic recrudescence of the virus. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic variation of EHV-5 in individual animals over time and to determine the dynamics of EHV-5 spread among selected mare-foal pairs at three horse studs. The partial glycoprotein B () gene was amplified from archival nasal swab samples. Sequences from 3-5 clones from each PCR product were compared using identity matrix, phylogeny...
Cannabinoid Receptors in the Horse Lateral Nucleus of the Amygdala: A Potential Target for Ameliorating Pain Perception, Stress and Anxiety in Horses. The amygdala is composed of several nuclei, including the lateral nucleus which is the main receiving area for the input from cortical and subcortical brain regions. It mediates fear, anxiety, stress, and pain across species. Evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system may be a promising target for modulating these processes. Cannabinoid and cannabinoid-related receptors have been identified in the amygdala of rodents, carnivores, and humans, but not in horses. This study aimed to investigate the gene expression of cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1R) and 2 (CB2R), transient receptor potential...
Orientin Reverses Premature Senescence in Equine Adipose Stromal Cells Affected by Equine Metabolic Syndrome Through Oxidative Stress Modulation. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder associated with insulin dysregulation, oxidative stress, and impaired regenerative capacity of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of orientin-a plant-derived flavonoid with known antioxidant properties-on equine ASCs (EqASCs) derived from both clinically healthy and diagnosed EMS-affected mares. EqASCs were treated with orientin to evaluate its biological effects. The analysis included key cellular functions such as proliferative capacity, viability, apoptosis, oxidative stress, ...
Gray-Horse Melanoma-A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Malignant melanoma (MM) affects not only humans but also animals, with gray horses being particularly predisposed to acquiring the disease. Multiomics have greatly advanced the understanding of human MM. In contrasty little is known regarding the pathogenesis of gray-horse melanoma and the unique phenomenon of melanoma "dormancy" in some animals. To help close this gap in knowledge, melanoma tissue and intact skin collected from gray horses were subjected to transcriptome analysis using RNAseq. In the next step, cultured primary tumor cells and normal skin fibroblasts were established from gra...
Iron Status in Sport Horses: Is It Important for Equine Athletes? Iron is unquestionably an essential element of physical performance for horses, just as it is for many other animals, including humans. Although post-exercise equine iron deficiency is not a common problem, recent studies showed that equine athletes may be considered a model for human exercise physiology. Sports anemia among human athletes is a common nutritional issue and remains one reason for poor physical fitness. Thus, this study area needs comprehensive knowledge since iron homeostasis changes in equine athletes remain unrecognized. The current review aims to summarize studies describing...
Biphasic CAPA-IVM Improves Equine Oocyte Quality and Subsequent Embryo Development Without Inducing Genetic Aberrations. In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes retrieved from ovum pick-up (OPU) or ovarian tissue (OT) is a standard approach for patients with specific conditions where prior hormonal stimulation is contraindicated. However, the developmental competence of oocytes matured in vitro is still inferior to that of oocytes matured in vivo. Capacitation IVM (CAPA-IVM) includes an extra step of pre-maturation culture (PMC) with c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) as a meiotic arrestor to better synchronize cytoplasmic and nuclear maturity in oocytes by allowing the cytoplasm additional time to acquire essential ...
Extracellular Vesicles in Sport Horses: Potential Biomarkers and Modulators of Exercise Adaptation and Therapeutics. Significant systemic metabolic benefits result from even a single exercise session by activating multiple metabolic and signaling pathways within the organism. Among these mechanisms, extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a critical role by delivering their molecular cargo to neighboring or distant cells, thereby influencing cellular metabolism and function. As research progresses, EVs represent an exciting frontier in exercise science and fitness adaptation processes. There is increasing interest in understanding the physiology of EVs as signaling particles and their use as minimally invasive dia...
In Vitro Immunomodulatory Effects of Equine Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Primed with a Cannabidiol-Rich Extract. Cell-based therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) shows promise for treating several diseases due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. To enhance the therapeutic potential of MSCs, in vitro priming strategies have been explored. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from cannabis, may influence MSC proliferation, differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties. This study evaluates the immunomodulatory potential of equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (EqAT-MSCs) primed with a CBD-rich cannabis extract. EqAT-MSCs (P3) were primed with CBD concentrati...
Extracellular Vesicle-Derived microRNA Crosstalk Between Equine Chondrocytes and Synoviocytes-An In Vitro Approach. This study describes a novel technique to analyze the extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived microRNA (miRNA) crosstalk between equine chondrocytes and synoviocytes. Donor cells (chondrocytes, n = 8; synoviocytes, n = 9) were labelled with 5-ethynyl uridine (5-EU); EVs were isolated from culture media and incubated with recipient cells (chondrocytes [n = 5] were incubated with synoviocyte-derived EVs, and synoviocytes [n = 4] were incubated with chondrocyte-derived EVs). Total RNA was extracted from recipient cells; the 5-EU-labelled RNA was recovered and sequenced. Differential expression analysi...
Regulatory Mechanisms of Yili Horses During an 80 km Race Based on Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analyses. Equine endurance exercise induces physiological changes that alter metabolism and molecular pathways to maintain balance after intense physical activity. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms remain under debate. Identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites (DMs) associated with equine endurance is essential for elucidating these regulatory mechanisms. This study collected blood samples from six Yili horses before and after an 80 km race and conducted transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses, yielding 722 DEGs and 256 DMs. These DEGs were primarily enri...
Role of Glycans in Equine Endometrial Cell Uptake of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Amniotic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important mediators of cell-cell communication thanks to their ability to transfer their bioactive cargo, thus regulating a variety of physiological contexts. EVs derived from amniotic mesenchymal/stromal cells (eAMC-EVs) are internalized by equine endometrial cells (eECs) with positive effects on regenerative medicine treatments. As the cellular uptake of EVs is influenced by the glycan profile of both EVs and target cells, this study is focused on the role of surface glycans in the uptake of eAMC-EVs by recipient eECs. Equine ECs were obtained by enzymatic di...
Sensitization to Horse Allergens-Molecular Analysis Based on the Results of Multiparameter Tests. The domestic horse is the third most common source of animal allergens. Currently, five equine allergens have been classified (Equ c 1, 2, 3, 4, 6). Despite the apparently low exposure to allergens, equine allergy is still of great clinical importance. The aim of the study was to analyze equine allergy based on the results of ImmunoCAP ISAC and Allergy Xplorer ALEX tests. The study was retrospective. A total of 1553 patients were analyzed. Immunological tests were performed using the ImmunoCAP ISAC and Allergy Xplorer ALEX systems. From all the results, those with a positive result for at leas...
Genomic-Inbreeding Landscape and Selection Signatures in the Polo Argentino Horse Breed. Analyzing genetic variability and inbreeding trends is essential for effective breed management in animal populations. To this, the characterization of runs of homozygosity (ROH) provides a good genomic approach to study the phenomena. The Polo Argentino (PA) breed, globally recognized as the best adapted to playing polo, is known for its strong influence of Thoroughbreds, intense selective breeding, and extensive use of reproductive biotechnologies. This study investigates the PA's genomic variability, by characterizing the ROH landscape and identifying ROH islands (ROHi) as potential genomic...
Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus: The Importance of Metabolism and Aging. Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that, among humans, can cause a severe and often fatal illness. The zoonotic EEEV enzootic cycle involves a cycle of transmission between and avian hosts, frequently resulting in spillover to dead-end vertebrate hosts such as humans and horses. Interestingly, it has been described that the W132G mutation of the very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), the receptor of EEEV, significantly enhanced the VLDLR-mediated cell attachment of EEEV. The patient's metabolism plays a pivotal role in shaping the complex lan...
Effect of Low-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronate-Based Nanoparticles on the In Vitro Expression of Cartilage Markers. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a key component of synovial fluid as it plays a crucial role in joint physiology. Its biological activity is influenced by molecular weight, local concentration, and persistence in joints. High-molecular-weight HA has a consolidated history of clinical use, whereas little is known about the metabolic effect of low-molecular-weight hyaluronate on cartilage differentiation. This study explores the potential of HA-based nanoparticles (NPs) on chondrocytes differentiation in vitro. Starting from 25 kDa and 250 kDa sodium hyaluronate solutions, two types of NPs were prepared...
Enhanced ROS Production and Mitochondrial Metabolic Shifts in CD4+ T Cells of an Autoimmune Uveitis Model. Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a spontaneously occurring autoimmune disease and one of the leading causes of blindness in horses worldwide. Its similarities to autoimmune-mediated uveitis in humans make it a unique spontaneous animal model for this disease. Although many aspects of ERU pathogenesis have been elucidated, it remains not fully understood and requires further research. CD4+ T cells have been a particular focus of research. In a previous study, we showed metabolic alterations in CD4+ T cells from ERU cases, including an increased basal oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and elevated ...
Plasma Lipidomics Reveals Lipid Signatures of Early Pregnancy in Mares. Understanding the systemic biochemistry of early pregnancy in the mare is essential for developing new diagnostics and identifying causes for pregnancy loss. This study aimed to elucidate the dynamic lipidomic changes occurring during the initial stages of equine pregnancy, with a specific focus on days 7 and 14 post-ovulation. By analysing and comparing the plasma lipid profiles of pregnant and non-pregnant mares, the objective of this study was to identify potential biomarkers for pregnancy and gain insights into the biochemical adaptations essential for supporting maternal recognition of pr...
Degradation of Proteoglycans and Collagen in Equine Meniscal Tissues. Investigate meniscal extracellular matrix degradation. Equine menisci ( = 34 from 17 horses) were studied. Site-matched sections were cut and scored from three regions (ROIs; = 102) and stained for histology, proteoglycan (safranin O and fast green), aggrecan, and collagen cleavage (NITEGE, DIPEN, and C1,2C antibodies, respectively). Picrosirius red and second harmonic generation microscopy were performed to investigate collagen ultrastructure. A total of 42 ROIs met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The median (range) ROI histological score was 3 (0-9), providin...
Equine Endothelial Cells Show Pro-Angiogenic Behaviours in Response to Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 but Not Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A. Understanding the factors which control endothelial cell (EC) function and angiogenesis is crucial for developing the horse as a disease model, but equine ECs remain poorly studied. In this study, we have optimised methods for the isolation and culture of equine aortic endothelial cells (EAoECs) and characterised their angiogenic functions in vitro. Mechanical dissociation, followed by magnetic purification using an anti-VE-cadherin antibody, resulted in EC-enriched cultures suitable for further study. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) increased the EAoEC proliferation rate and stimulated scra...
Non-Targeted Detection of Synthetic Oligonucleotides in Equine Serum Using Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. There is great concern in equine sport over the potential use of pharmaceutical agents capable of editing the genome or modifying the expression of gene products. Synthetic oligonucleotides are short, single-stranded polynucleotides that represent a class of agents capable of modifying gene expression products with a high potential for abuse in horseracing. As these substances are not covered by most routine anti-doping analytical approaches, they represent an entire class of compounds that are not readily detectable. The nucleotide sequence for each oligonucleotide is highly specific, which m...