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Association of adrenocorticotrophin and cortisol concentrations with peripheral blood leukocyte cytokine gene expression in septic and nonseptic neonatal foals.
Abstract: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) is influenced by the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in critically ill humans. Information about the association of cytokines with the HPA axis in neonatal foals is lacking. Objective: The objectives were to describe for hospitalized septic and nonseptic foals (1) temporal changes in blood concentrations of ACTH, and cortisol, and leukocyte cytokine gene expression, and (2) coassociation of these HPA axis hormones with blood leukocyte cytokine gene expression. Methods: Hospitalized septic foals (N = 15) and hospitalized nonseptic foals (N = 11). Methods: Blood samples, obtained from study foals at admission (T = 0), and 24 (T = 1), 48 (T = 2), 72 (T = 3), and 96 (T = 4) hours after admission, were processed to isolate RNA from leukocytes and to harvest plasma and serum for hormone assays. Plasma ACTH and serum cortisol concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Leukocyte mRNA expression of IL-1β IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α was determined using RT-PCR. Results: Cortisol concentrations were greater (P < .05) in foals at admission than at other time points. The expressions of IL-8 and IL-10 mRNA were lower (P < .05) at each time point in septic than in nonseptic foals. Among septic foals, ACTH was positively associated (P = .0026) with IL-6 mRNA expression. Conclusions: Sepsis influences secretion of the HPA axis hormones and expression of cytokines in foals. A positive association with the HPA axis and IL-6 expression was detected. The clinical importance of these findings requires additional study.
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2012-03-23 PubMed ID: 22443385DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00910.xGoogle 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the relationship between hormones of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, specifically adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol, and the expression of cytokine genes in the white blood cells of hospitalized newborn foals, both septic and non-septic. It reveals that sepsis influences the secretion of HPA hormones and cytokine expression, with a significant positive association found between ACTH and the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6.
Objective and Methodology
- As suggested by the abstract, the purpose of this study was twofold. Firstly, it intended to trace the changes over time in ACTH and cortisol concentrations, and the expression of cytokine genes in the white blood cells of both septic and non-septic hospitalized foals. Secondly, it aimed to investigate any correlations between these HPA axis hormones and the expression of cytokine genes in the white blood cells.
- The study involved 15 septic foals and 11 non-septic foals, all of whom were in a hospital setting. The researchers collected blood samples at five separate points following admission: on arrival, and then 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours later. From these samples, they harvested plasma and serum for hormone assays, while using RNA extraction from white blood cells for cytokine gene expression analysis.
- Specifically, plasma concentrations of the hormone ACTH were measured, as were serum cortisol concentrations, using a procedure known as a radioimmunoassay. The expression of the cytokine genes IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α in the white blood cells was determined via RT-PCR.
Research Findings
- The research findings revealed that cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in the foals upon admission than at any other time. This suggests that stress, potentially due to the illness or the hospitalization itself, may have elevated cortisol levels initially.
- The expressions of genes IL-8 and IL-10, which are both cytokines, were consistently lower at all measurement points in septic foals than in non-septic foals.
- A significant finding was the detection of a positive association between ACTH levels and the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 in septic foals. This suggests a potential link between the body’s stress response (signaled by ACTH) and inflammation (signaled by IL-6) during sepsis in neonatal foals.
- Overall, the research indicates that sepsis in newborn foals influences the secretion of hormones from the HPA axis and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, potentially underlining a connection between stress response and immune response in these animals.
Conclusions and Further Study
- In conclusion, sepsis in newborn foals appears to affect the endocrine and immune systems, specifically the hormones related to the HPA axis and cytokine expression in white blood cells.
- Researchers posit that more extensive studies will be needed to understand the clinical importance of these findings fully.
Cite This Article
APA
Gold JR, Cohen ND, Welsh TH.
(2012).
Association of adrenocorticotrophin and cortisol concentrations with peripheral blood leukocyte cytokine gene expression in septic and nonseptic neonatal foals.
J Vet Intern Med, 26(3), 654-661.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00910.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. golddvm@gmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / immunology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Cytokines / genetics
- Cytokines / immunology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Hydrocortisone / immunology
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / immunology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
- Male
- Pituitary-Adrenal System / immunology
- Prospective Studies
- RNA, Messenger / chemistry
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Sepsis / blood
- Sepsis / immunology
- Sepsis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Aleman M, McCue PM, Chigerwe M, Madigan JE. Plasma concentrations of steroid precursors, steroids, neuroactive steroids, and neurosteroids in healthy neonatal foals from birth to 7 days of age. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2286-2293.
- Edwards KL, Miller MA, Carlstead K, Brown JL. Relationships between housing and management factors and clinical health events in elephants in North American zoos. PLoS One 2019;14(6):e0217774.
- Vinther AM, Heegaard PM, Skovgaard K, Buhl R, Andreassen SM, Andersen PH. Characterization and differentiation of equine experimental local and early systemic inflammation by expression responses of inflammation-related genes in peripheral blood leukocytes. BMC Vet Res 2016 Jun 1;12:83.
- Vinther AM, Skovgaard K, Heegaard PM, Andersen PH. Dynamic expression of leukocyte innate immune genes in whole blood from horses with lipopolysaccharide-induced acute systemic inflammation. BMC Vet Res 2015 Jun 16;11:134.
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