Airway remodeling in horses with mild and moderate asthma.
Abstract: There is a remodeling of the central airways in horses with severe asthma but whether a similar process occurs in horses with the mild or moderate asthma (MMA) is unknown. Objective: To evaluate lesions affecting the central airways of horses with MMA. Methods: Twelve horses with MMA and 8 control horses. Methods: Case-control retrospective study of horses classified as MMA affected or controls based on history and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology. Endobronchial biopsies were analyzed using histomorphometry and a semiquantitative histologic scoring system. Results: Histomorphometry identified epithelial hyperplasia (47 μm /μm [34-57 μm /μm]; P = .02), a thickened lamina propria (166 μm [73-336 μm]; P = .04), and smooth muscle fibrosis (42% [33%-78%]; P = .04) in horses with MMA when compared to controls horses (24 μm /μm [21-80 μm /μm]; 76 μm [36-176 μm]; and 33% [26%-52%], respectively). The semiquantitative score results indicated, in horses with MMA, the presence of epithelial hyperplasia (7 of the 12 horses with MMA and only 1 of the 8 control horses had a score of 1/1), and submucosal inflammatory leucocytes in the central airway (11 of the 12 horses with MMA and only 4 of the 8 control horses had a score ≥ 1/2). Conclusions: Tissue remodeling of the bronchial lamina propria, epithelium, and smooth muscle was present in horses with MMA.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2021-12-08 PubMed ID: 34877706PubMed Central: PMC8783337DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16333Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research shows that horses suffering from mild to moderate asthma display an alteration in the structure of their central airways, a process known as airway remodeling. This process, already known to occur in horses with severe asthma, was evaluated in horses with less severe asthma, shedding light on its characteristics and its histological implications.
Introduction
The study’s purpose was to investigate whether horses with mild or moderate asthma (MMA) experience similar central airway remodeling as seen in horses with severe asthma. Airway remodeling refers to the structural changes in the bronchial wall as a result of chronic inflammation caused by asthma. These structural changes can involve an array of alterations, including epithelial hyperplasia, thickening of lamina propria, and smooth muscle fibrosis.
Methods
- The research included 12 horses with MMA and 8 control horses without asthma.
- Horses were classified as MMA affected or controls based on their medical history and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology, a diagnostic tool for respiratory diseases.
- Endobronchial biopsies were taken from each horse and analyzed through histomorphometry, a technique to study the microscopic structure of tissues, and a semiquantitative histologic scoring system.
- The changes in bronchial wall, comprising epithelial cell layer, lamina propria (connective tissue layer), and smooth muscle, were analyzed and compared against control horses.
Results
- Horses with MMA experienced epithelial hyperplasia, thickened lamina propria, and smooth muscle fibrosis, corroborating the hypothesis that they undergo airway remodeling.
- The semi-quantitative score results indicated the consistent presence of epithelial hyperplasia and submucosal inflammatory leucocytes in the airways of the horses with MMA.
Conclusion
Based on the observed histopathological alterations in the bronchial tissues, the researchers concluded that horses with mild to moderate asthma also undergo airway remodeling. This research brings further understanding to the pathophysiology of equine asthma and could potentially guide future studies into the mitigation strategies for Madden’s disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Bessonnat A, Hélie P, Grimes C, Lavoie JP.
(2021).
Airway remodeling in horses with mild and moderate asthma.
J Vet Intern Med, 36(1), 285-291.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16333 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Airway Remodeling
- Animals
- Asthma / pathology
- Asthma / veterinary
- Bronchi / pathology
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Hyperplasia / pathology
- Hyperplasia / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
Grant Funding
- RGPIN-2015-04092 / Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 32 references
- Richard EA, Fortier GD, Denoix JM, Art T, Lekeux PM, Van Erck E. Influence of subclinical inflammatory airway disease on equine respiratory function evaluated by impulse oscillometry.. Equine Vet J 2009 Apr;41(4):384-9.
- Couëtil LL, Rosenthal FS, DeNicola DB, Chilcoat CD. Clinical signs, evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and assessment of pulmonary function in horses with inflammatory respiratory disease.. Am J Vet Res 2001 Apr;62(4):538-46.
- Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD, Freestone J, Frank CJ, Towers-Clark PF. An assessment of wastage in thoroughbred racing from conception to 4 years of age.. Equine Vet J 1982 Jul;14(3):185-98.
- Rossdale PD, Hopes R, Digby NJ, offord K. Epidemiological study of wastage among racehorses 1982 and 1983.. Vet Rec 1985 Jan 19;116(3):66-9.
- Robinson NE, Hoffman A, Couetil L. Inflammatory airway disease: Defining the syndrome. Conclusions of the Havemeyer Workshop.. Equine Vet Educ 2003;15:61‐63.
- Ivester KM, Couëtil LL, Moore GE. An observational study of environmental exposures, airway cytology, and performance in racing thoroughbreds.. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Sep;32(5):1754-1762.
- Lavoie JP, Cesarini C, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Moran K, Lutz S, Picandet V, Jean D, Marcoux M. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology and cytokine messenger ribonucleic Acid expression of racehorses with exercise intolerance and lower airway inflammation.. J Vet Intern Med 2011 Mar-Apr;25(2):322-9.
- Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
- Pirrone F, Albertini M, Clement MG, Lafortuna CL. Respiratory mechanics in Standardbred horses with sub-clinical inflammatory airway disease and poor athletic performance.. Vet J 2007 Jan;173(1):144-50.
- Sánchez A, Couëtil LL, Ward MP, Clark SP. Effect of airway disease on blood gas exchange in racehorses.. J Vet Intern Med 2005 Jan-Feb;19(1):87-92.
- Bond SL, Greco-Otto P, MacLeod J, Galezowski A, Bayly W, Léguillette R. Efficacy of dexamethasone, salbutamol, and reduced respirable particulate concentration on aerobic capacity in horses with smoke-induced mild asthma.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):979-985.
- Bullone M, Beauchamp G, Godbout M, Martin JG, Lavoie JP. Endobronchial Ultrasound Reliably Quantifies Airway Smooth Muscle Remodeling in an Equine Asthma Model.. PLoS One 2015;10(9):e0136284.
- Bullone M, Chevigny M, Allano M, Martin JG, Lavoie JP. Technical and physiological determinants of airway smooth muscle mass in endobronchial biopsy samples of asthmatic horses.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2014 Oct 1;117(7):806-15.
- Bullone M, Hélie P, Joubert P, Lavoie JP. Development of a Semiquantitative Histological Score for the Diagnosis of Heaves Using Endobronchial Biopsy Specimens in Horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Sep;30(5):1739-1746.
- Range F, Mundhenk L, Gruber AD. A soluble secreted glycoprotein (eCLCA1) is overexpressed due to goblet cell hyperplasia and metaplasia in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.. Vet Pathol 2007 Nov;44(6):901-11.
- Leclere M, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Gélinas-Lymburner E, David F, Martin JG, Lavoie JP. Effect of antigenic exposure on airway smooth muscle remodeling in an equine model of chronic asthma.. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2011 Jul;45(1):181-7.
- Setlakwe EL, Lemos KR, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Duguay JD, Lavoie JP. Airway collagen and elastic fiber content correlates with lung function in equine heaves.. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2014 Aug 1;307(3):L252-60.
- Herszberg B, Ramos-Barbón D, Tamaoka M, Martin JG, Lavoie JP. Heaves, an asthma-like equine disease, involves airway smooth muscle remodeling.. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006 Aug;118(2):382-8.
- Boivin R, Vargas A, Lefebvre-Lavoie J, Lauzon AM, Lavoie JP. Inhaled corticosteroids modulate the (+)insert smooth muscle myosin heavy chain in the equine asthmatic airways.. Thorax 2014 Dec;69(12):1113-9.
- Viel L. Structural‐Functional Correlations of the Lung in Horses with Small Airway Disease [doctoral dissertation]. Guelph, Canada: University of Guelph; 1983.
- Leclere M, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Joubert P, Relave F, Setlakwe EL, Beauchamp G, Couture C, Martin JG, Lavoie JP. Corticosteroids and antigen avoidance decrease airway smooth muscle mass in an equine asthma model.. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2012 Nov;47(5):589-96.
- Christley RM, Hodgson DR, Evans DL, Rose RJ. Effects of training on the development of exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia in horses.. Am J Vet Res 1997 Jun;58(6):653-7.
- Nyman G, Björk M, Funkquist P. Gas exchange during exercise in standardbred trotters with mild bronchiolitis.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1999 Jul;(30):96-101.
- Bullone M, Vargas A, Elce Y, Martin JG, Lavoie JP. Fluticasone/salmeterol reduces remodelling and neutrophilic inflammation in severe equine asthma.. Sci Rep 2017 Aug 18;7(1):8843.
- Winder NC, von Fellenberg R. Chronic small airway disease in the horse: immunohistochemical evaluation of lungs with mild, moderate and severe lesions.. Vet Rec 1988 Feb 20;122(8):181-3.
- Kaup FJ, Drommer W, Deegen E. Ultrastructural findings in horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). I: Alterations of the larger conducting airways.. Equine Vet J 1990 Sep;22(5):343-8.
- Gy C, Leclere M, Vargas A, Grimes C, Lavoie JP. Investigation of blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of mild to moderate asthma in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jul;33(4):1789-1795.
- Jean D, Vrins A, Beauchamp G, Lavoie JP. Evaluation of variations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.. Am J Vet Res 2011 Jun;72(6):838-42.
- Bullone M, Joubert P, Gagné A, Lavoie JP, Hélie P. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid neutrophilia is associated with the severity of pulmonary lesions during equine asthma exacerbations.. Equine Vet J 2018 Sep;50(5):609-615.
- Russell HK Jr. A modification of Movat's pentachrome stain.. Arch Pathol 1972 Aug;94(2):187-91.
- Gundersen HJ, Bendtsen TF, Korbo L, Marcussen N, Møller A, Nielsen K, Nyengaard JR, Pakkenberg B, Sørensen FB, Vesterby A. Some new, simple and efficient stereological methods and their use in pathological research and diagnosis.. APMIS 1988 May;96(5):379-94.
- Lambert RK, Wiggs BR, Kuwano K, Hogg JC, Paré PD. Functional significance of increased airway smooth muscle in asthma and COPD.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1993 Jun;74(6):2771-81.
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Cullinane A, Garvey M, Walsh C, Gibbons J, Creighton A. A Scoping Review of Non-Structural Airway Disease as a Cause of Poor Performance in Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 27;13(3).
- Bartenschlager F, Kuropka B, Schmitz P, Dumke F, Landmann K, Gruber AD, Weise C, Schnabel CL, Gehlen H, Mundhenk L. Proteomic profiling of equine airway mucus reveals compositional changes in asthmatic phenotypes. Sci Rep 2026 Feb 10;16(1):5880.
- Lendl L, Wirth C, Merle R, Barton AK. Influence of a Standardized Lunging Exercise Test on BALF Cytology in Horses Suffering from Mild-Moderate Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 19;15(16).
- Lendl L, Barton AK. Equine Asthma Diagnostics: Review of Influencing Factors and Difficulties in Diagnosing Subclinical Disease. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 4;14(23).
- Lo Feudo CM, Ferrucci F, Bizzotto D, Dellacà R, Lavoie JP, Stucchi L. Differences in pulmonary function measured by oscillometry between horses with mild-moderate equine asthma and healthy controls. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):619-628.
- Höglund N, Rossi H, Javela HM, Oikari S, Nieminen P, Mustonen AM, Airas N, Kärjä V, Mykkänen A. The amount of hyaluronic acid and airway remodelling increase with the severity of inflammation in neutrophilic equine asthma. BMC Vet Res 2024 Jun 25;20(1):273.
- Mönki J, Holopainen M, Ruhanen H, Karikoski N, Käkelä R, Mykkänen A. Lipid species profiling of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells of horses housed on two different bedding materials. Sci Rep 2023 Dec 8;13(1):21778.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
