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Topic:Equine model
The equine model refers to the use of horses as a biological model in scientific research to study various physiological and pathological processes. Horses are utilized in research due to their unique physiological characteristics, which can parallel certain aspects of human health and disease. This model is applied in studies ranging from musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory diseases to metabolic syndromes and reproductive health. Research involving equine models often investigates disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, and preventative strategies. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the application, benefits, and limitations of using horses as models in scientific research, providing insights into equine and comparative biomedical studies.
Single-cell sequencing reveals synovial fluid γδ T-cell expansion in equine experimental osteoarthritis. Define temporal cellular changes following joint injury using single-cell RNA sequencing in experimental equine posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Unassigned: PTOA was induced in 4 Quarter Horses (3 to 5 years) via carpal osteochondral fragmentation and high-speed treadmill exercise. Synovial fluid (SF) cells and synovium were sampled over 18 weeks (November 2023 to April 2024). Single-cell suspensions were processed (10x Genomics Chromium iX), then aligned to the equine genome (Cell Ranger). Downstream analysis was completed in the R Seurat package. Differential gene expression (log2[fold c...
Circulating Cell-Free RNA Reflects Immune-Associated and Airway Remodeling Signatures in Equine Asthma. Circulating cell-free RNA (cfRNA) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive biomarker capable of capturing transcripts originating from multiple tissues and cell types, but its utility in chronic inflammatory airway diseases remains poorly understood. Equine asthma (EA), a naturally occurring respiratory disease that shares key clinical and immunopathological features with human asthma, provides a valuable comparative model for evaluating plasma cfRNA in this context. We performed transcriptomic profiling of plasma cfRNA from horses with EA and healthy controls and compared these findings ...
Selective oncolytic activity of newcastle disease virus in equine sarcoid primary cells: a preclinical investigation. Equine sarcoids are the most common skin tumors in horses and are characterized by local invasiveness, high recurrence rates, and inconsistent responses to current therapies. Oncolytic virotherapy represents a promising alternative approach that exploits defects in antiviral signaling pathways in tumor cells. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian paramyxovirus that is nonpathogenic in mammals, has demonstrated tumor-selective activity in several species; however, its effects on equine sarcoids have not been previously investigated. In this study, primary cell cultures derived from equine sar...
Alpha-2-Macroglobulin-Enriched Plasma Modulates Inflammatory and Proteolytic Pathways in Experimental Equine Musculoskeletal Models. Joint inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation are major contributors to the development of equine osteoarthritis and reduced athletic performance. Alpha-2-macroglobulin is a naturally occurring broad-spectrum inhibitor of proteases and inflammatory mediators that has emerged as a promising orthobiologic therapy. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and matrix-protective effects of alpha-2-macroglobulin-enriched plasma in complementary in vitro and ex vivo equine models. Primary equine chondrocytes and synoviocytes isolated from healthy horses were stimulated with interleukin...
Cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells combined with hyaluronic acid show symptom-modifying and potential disease-modifying effects in an equine osteoarthritis fetlock chip model. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of lameness in horses, and current therapies largely address clinical signs rather than disease progression. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown promise as disease-modifying biologics, but their effects on joint structure and immunologic phenotype remain incompletely characterized. Unassigned: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pooled cryopreserved equine umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (eCB-MSCs) combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) for surgically induced fetlock OA in horses, using integrated clinical, imaging, and synovial biomarker outcomes....
Neosaxitoxin Downregulates Inflammation in an Equine In Vivo Model of Osteoarthritis. Chronic synovial inflammation is a hallmark of osteoarthritis progression and is tightly regulated by synovial macrophages. Recently, voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV) have emerged as potent modulators of macrophage-driven inflammation, positioning them as novel therapeutic targets. Among selective NaV channel blockers, neosaxitoxin exerts remarkable anesthetic and immunomodulatory effects; however, its effects on joint inflammation upon intra-articular delivery remain unexplored. Using an equine model of bilateral carpal osteoarthritis, this study evaluated the immunomodulatory and tissue-p...
Species-specific effects of spinal stiffness on gait and actuation-cost proxy in simulated cheetah and horse galloping. Cursorial quadrupeds employ distinct mechanical strategies for high-speed locomotion, with felids relying more strongly on axial motion than equids. The biomechanical role of spinal stiffness, however, is difficult to isolate experimentally because it is coupled to limb mechanics, morphology, and coordination. Here, we used comparative three-dimensional trajectory optimization to test how spinal stiffness influences gait mechanics and actuation-demand proxies in simulated cheetah-like and horse-like galloping. Homologous cheetah and horse models were evaluated across spinal-stiffness values, p...
Evaluation of Microvascular Flow Imaging and Power Doppler Ultrasonography in an Equine Model of Induced Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis. Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries are common in athletic horses and are associated with prolonged healing and high reinjury rates. Conventional ultrasonography provides structural information but limited physiologic assessment. This study compared microvascular imaging (MVI) and Power Doppler (PD) for evaluating vascular changes in a collagenase-induced equine SDFT injury model and assessed the effect of scanning technique on vascular signal detection. Eight adult Thoroughbred horses underwent bilateral collagenase-induced SDFT injury, with one forelimb randomly assigned to int...
Compartmentalization of DHCR7 links 7-DHC metabolism to B-ring unsaturated steroid synthesis in the equine fetal gonad. The endocrinology of equine pregnancy is unique, but many of its unusual phenomena closely resemble pregnancy in women. Placental estrone synthesis uses fetal adrenal androgen precursors in women, but from the fetal gonads in mares, peaking midway through the 11-month gestation. Unique to equine pregnancies, other estrogens like equilin, typified by an unsaturated B-ring sterol structure, are synthesized from 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC), the immediate precursor to cholesterol, without cholesterol formation, peaking later in gestation. Currently, the spatial and temporal regulation underlying ...
Effects of IGF1 Knockdown and Overexpression on the Phenotype and Function of Equine Primary Skeletal Muscle Cells. Skeletal muscle serves as the direct executor of movement, and the proliferation and migration capacities of its constituent cells represent the key physiological foundation determining equine endurance and speed. Previous whole-transcriptome analysis has shown that Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 () is significantly upregulated in following racing and is involved in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway; however, its specific regulatory mechanism in equine skeletal muscle cells remains unclear. This study utilized primary equine skeletal muscle cells as a model. By constructing an overexpression plas...
Intra-articular interleukin-1β induces early synovitis in an ex vivo autologously perfused equine forelimb model. To evaluate an ex vivo model of synovitis induced by IA lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and IL-1β in isolated, perfused equine forelimbs. Unassigned: Forelimbs and blood were collected from 12 clinically unremarkable horses following slaughter at a licensed abattoir. In 8 limbs, 2 of 3 phalangeal joints were injected with LPS (0.5 to 5 ng, 4 limbs) or IL-1β (100 ng, 4 limbs) diluted in 1 mL of distilled water. All limbs were perfused with autologous perfusate for 8 hours. Synovial fluid cytology and synovium sample histology scores for synovitis (0 = no changes and 3 = marked changes) were assessed...
A Genetic Algorithm-Based Approach for Quantitative Prediction of Drug-Drug Interactions Caused by Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibition or Induction in Horses. A genetic algorithm (GA)-based approach was designed to predict drug-drug interactions (DDIs) triggered by cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibition or induction in horses. Area under the concentration-time curve ratios (AUCRs), obtained from published in vivo DDI studies in horses, were used to compute the following parameters: (1) the contribution ratio (CR), i.e., the fraction of the substrate dose metabolized via the CYP3A pathway, and (2) the interacting drug's inhibitory potency or inducing efficacy (IR or IC, respectively). AUCRs for 9 substrates, 12 inhibitors, and 1 inducer of equine C...
Immunohistological characterization of equine synovial tissue in metacarpophalangeal joints of different ages and osteoarthritis status. Synovial macrophages' role in equine osteoarthritis (OA) is not well understood, despite horses being a model for human degenerative joint disorders. Equine synovial macrophages' characterization is limited and age-related changes are not described. This study aimed to evaluate surface marker distribution and expression from potential synovial tissue macrophages in foals, adult non-affected, and OA-affected horses. Unassigned: Surface markers (CD14, CD16, CD206) were quantitatively evaluated on dorsal villous synovial biopsies from the metacarpophalangeal joint of foals (F), non-affected (cont...
Clinical and Biochemical Effects of Intra-Articular Autologous Conditioned Serum and Triamcinolone in an Equine Model of Synovitis. Synovitis is a key contributor to the development of OA, and early modulation of the synovial environment may help limit downstream cartilage damage. This study compared the clinical and biochemical effects of intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and autologous conditioned serum (ACS) in an equine model of IL-1β-induced synovitis. Six healthy adult horses were used in a crossover design involving five groups: PBS (negative control), IL-1β (positive control), IL-1β + ACS, IL-1β + TA, and an exploratory ACS-alone group administered post hoc to isolate its effects without IL-1β inter...
Allogeneic Platelet-Rich Gel Supernatant Reprograms the Cytokine and Growth Factor Microenvironment in an Equine In Vitro Inflammatory Tendon System. Tendinopathy involves a dysregulated inflammatory microenvironment in which cytokines, growth factors (GF) and extracellular matrix components interact dynamically. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used as a regenerative therapy, but its mechanisms of action in inflamed tendon remain unclear. This study evaluated whether platelet-rich gel supernatant (PRGS) reprograms the inflammatory-anabolic mediator network in an equine in vitro tendon explant system stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tendon explants were cultured under six experimental conditions, including non-stimulated contro...
Review of articular cartilage repair techniques and their application in the horse. Articular cartilage lesions represent a significant career-limiting problem in athletic horses. A healthy articular cartilage surface is vital for optimal joint function, and defects can result in irreversible degenerative changes. Successful treatment of cartilage lesions remains a long-standing challenge for orthopaedic surgeons, prompting ongoing research into new surgical techniques for their management. This narrative review describes surgical procedures for the treatment of cartilage/osteochondral lesions, as well as the use of the horse as a highly translational preclinical model to hum...
Cross-neutralization and antigenic characterization of simian and equine group A rotaviruses. Rotaviral diarrhea in foals is caused by two dominant G3P[12] and G14P[12] genotypes of equine rotavirus A (ERVA). Protection of foals against ERVA infection and disease is achievable by passive antibody transfer through colostrum from mares receiving inactivated monovalent G3P[12] vaccine. Simian rotavirus SA11 G3P[2] is also included in ERVA vaccines to protect foals. Here, we characterized cross-neutralization and protection among three distinctive rotaviruses carrying the same or different G (defined by VP7) or P (defined by VP4) genotype by using a rabbit and equine monospecific antisera ...
Equine models in translational medicine: A comparative approach to human health. The horse is a distinctive translational model for bridging mechanistic discovery and clinically relevant investigation because of its physiological complexity, long lifespan, athletic phenotype, and broad spectrum of naturally occurring conditions that parallel aspects of human health and disease. Its utility extends from musculoskeletal and joint research to immunology, metabolic disorders, and exercise physiology, particularly where naturally developed disease, clinically applicable imaging, and longitudinal sampling are required. Additionally, it offers opportunities to examine both chroni...
Synergistic effects of Ferula asafoetida extract and condensed tannins from raisin pomace on in vitro cecal fermentation kinetics and nutrient digestibility in horses. The equine hindgut depends on microbial fermentation for efficient nutrient utilization but remains vulnerable to dysbiosis, hindgut acidosis, and suboptimal fiber digestion. Growing restrictions on antibiotic and synthetic feed additives have increased interest in natural phytogenic compounds. Medicinal plant extracts and condensed tannins are promising candidates to modulate microbial activity, improve fermentation efficiency, and enhance nutrient digestibility. This study aimed to investigate the individual and combined effects of hydroalcoholic extract of and condensed tannins extracted f...
Analysis of lipid mediator profiles in the blood of horses with equine asthma using UPLC-MS/MS. Equine asthma (EA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract in horses, which is mainly triggered by dusty hay. EA is becoming increasingly acknowledged as a valuable animal model for studying human asthma. Research on the pathogenesis of EA has primarily focused on the associated cells and cytokines involved. However, the role of inflammation-related lipid mediators (LM) in the development and progression of equine asthma remains elusive. LMs are categorized into pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid (AA)-derived leukotrienes (LTs) and prostaglandins (PGs), as well as infla...
Interleukin-4 changes the transcriptome, ECM-associated components and function of mare endometrial fibroblast: Insights from healthy and fibrotic cells. Fibrosis remains incompletely understood, particularly in terms of how immune mediators shape stromal programs. We used a spontaneous large‑animal model-endometrosis (equine endometrial fibrosis) to define how interleukin‑4 (IL‑4) reprograms fibroblasts from healthy and fibrotic endometrium. Primary fibroblasts were exposed to IL‑4 (10 ng/mL) for 48 or 96 h. At 48 h, bulk transcriptomes revealed 1307 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 648 up, 659 down) and 1271 DEGs (645 up, 626 down) in fibroblasts derived from endometria without or with endometrosis, respectively. Enrichment an...
Optimising Camera-ChArUco Geometry for Motion Compensation in Standing Equine CT: A CT-Motivated Benchtop Study. Standing equine computed tomography (CT) acquisitions are susceptible to residual postural sway, which can introduce view-inconsistent motion and degrade image quality. External optical tracking based on ChArUco fiducials is a promising, low-cost strategy to enable projection-wise motion compensation, yet quantitative guidance on how camera-marker geometry affects pose-estimation performance remains limited. This CT-motivated benchtop study characterizes how the relative camera-ChArUco configuration influences both the accuracy (bias with respect to ground truth) and the precision (repeatabili...
Bridging Species with AI: A Cross-Species Deep Learning Model for Fracture Detection and Beyond. Fractures are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Thoroughbred racehorses, posing a significant threat to their welfare and careers. This study introduces a deep learning model specifically designed to facilitate fracture detection in equine athletes. By leveraging extensive training on human fracture data and refining the model with equine imaging, it highlights the transformative potential of transfer learning across species and medical contexts. This approach is not limited to equine fractures but could be adapted for use in detecting injuries or conditions in other veterinary spe...
Tissue-Engineered Osteochondral Allograft Versus Fresh Osteochondral Allograft: Comparable Cartilage and Subchondral Bone Repair in a 14-Month Equine Osteochondral Defect Model. Fresh osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation effectively repairs cartilage and subchondral bone; however, the persisting shortage of available donor OCAs and their short shelf-life make scheduling surgeries and meeting patient demand challenging. Attempts have been made to develop tissue-engineered solutions to address the limitations of OCA; nonetheless, these have failed to progress beyond the preclinical stage. Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of a tissue-engineered osteochondral allograft (TE-OCA) as compared with equine OCA in an equine osteochondral defect model. Metho...
Engineered biopolymeric hydrogels for in vitro modeling of equine sarcoid tumors in comparative oncology. Developing advanced preclinical in vitro cancer models is essential for understanding tumor biology, improving drug discovery, and enhancing the clinical translation of new therapies. Papillomaviruses (PVs) cause diverse lesions in humans and animals; notably, bovine papillomavirus (BPV) is the main cause of equine sarcoid, the most common skin tumor in horses. Its pathogenesis involves viral infection, fibroblast transformation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. These processes highlight the limitations of conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture systems, which fail to replicate the...
Generation and characterization of an immortalized equine osteoblast cell line. Bone is a dynamic tissue that is maintained through the co-ordination of bone resorption and bone formation. An imbalance of these processes can lead to bone disease. In vitro studies of osteoblasts can help to understand bone formation, but primary cells have a limited lifespan in culture. Herein, we report the successful generation of equine immortalized osteoblasts through the stable overexpression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen in osteoblasts isolated from trabecular bone taken from the third metacarpal of a two-year-old Thoroug...
Functional and biochemical inflammatory responses to low-dose intra-articular recombinant equine IL-1β: a pilot study. Low-dose intra-articular injection of recombinant equine interleukin-1β (reIL-1β) may offer a useful model for studying early onset or subclinical joint inflammation in horses. This pilot study aimed to determine the lowest intra-articular dose of reIL-1β required to produce biochemical evidence of synovitis, and to correlate synovitis biomarkers with functional, upper-body asymmetry parameters. Saline (control) and 50, and 75 ng reIL-1β were injected into the left or right intercarpal joint of three ( = 3) horses in a three-way crossover design. Synovial fluid was collected by aseptic art...
Affiliative behaviours regulate allostasis development and shape biobehavioural trajectories in horses. Social interactions shape both the physiological and behavioural development of offspring, and poor care/early caregiver loss is known to promote adverse outcomes during infancy in both animals and humans. How affiliative behaviours impact the future development of offspring remains an open question. Here, we used Equus caballus (domestic horse) as a model to investigate this question. By coupling magnetic resonance imaging, longitudinal biobehavioural assessments and advanced multivariate statistical modelling, we found that prolonged maternal presence during infancy promotes the maturation o...
Ultraviolet C (UV-C) Light Therapy Inhibits Pathogens Associated With Equine Keratomycosis at Different Corneal Depths-An Ex Vivo Study. To assess if an inexpensive, commercially available ultraviolet C (UV-C) light device with a peak emission of 275 nm can inhibit equine keratomycosis-associated pathogens located at different corneal depths in an ex vivo model. Methods: A controlled, randomized experimental design. Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium solani isolates were inoculated in fresh bovine corneoscleral transplants, superficially or at 450 μm of stromal depth for the ulcerative keratomycosis or stromal abscess model, respectively. After a minimum of 18 h of incubation, treatment groups received 15 s of UV-C li...
Metformin Protects Against Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in an Equine Model. Horses are one of the few animals that spontaneously develop atrial fibrillation (AF), making them a powerful model for studying AF mechanisms and treatment effects. Despite the initial effectiveness of treatment in horses and humans, AF-induced atrial remodeling compromises its long-term success. Observational studies have suggested that metformin may reduce the risk of AF, but its effects on progressive AF-induced atrial remodeling have yet to be evaluated in a high-fidelity large animal model. Unassigned: Here, we used a longitudinal horse model of tachypacing-induced self-sustained AF to c...
