Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology and cytokine messenger ribonucleic Acid expression of racehorses with exercise intolerance and lower airway inflammation.
Abstract: There is limited information relating bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology and cytokine messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in racehorses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD). HYPOTHESIS AND OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that cytokine expression in BAL cells would correlate with cytology. Thus, we evaluated the mRNA expression of selected cytokines in BAL cells in racehorses with exercise intolerance and lower airway inflammation. Methods: Thirty-one client-owned Standardbred racehorses with exercise intolerance. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Cells were obtained by BAL, and mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ was determined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: Nine horses had normal BAL cell differential cytology (Controls), while 22 horses had evidence of IAD based on BAL fluid cytology. Relative expressions of TNF-α/glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH; 0.0092 ± 0.010 versus 0.0045 ± 0.005, P= .034), IL-4/GAPDH (0.001 ± 0.002 versus 0.0003 ± 0.0003, P= .029), and IFN-γ/GAPDH (0.0027 ± 0.003 versus 0.0009 ± 0.001, P= .028) were greater in horses with IAD compared with controls. Furthermore, IL-4/GAPDH (0.001 ± 0.002 versus 0.0002 ± 0.0003, P < .0001) and IFN-γ/GAPDH (0.003 ± 0.003 versus 0.001 ± 0.001, P= .002) mRNA expression was increased in horses with increased metachromatic cell counts compared with horses with normal metachromatic cell counts. Only the mRNA expression of IL-1β/GAPDH (1.1 ± 0.7 versus 0.3 ± 0.3, P= .045) was increased with airway neutrophilia. Conclusions: Differences in gene expression were associated with the presence of IAD and with specific cell types present in airway secretions of Standardbred racehorses with poor performance. These findings suggest that different pathophysiological pathways are implicated in IAD.
Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2011-01-31 PubMed ID: 21281348DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0664.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the connection between the abundance and type of cells present in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the expression of specific inflammation-related genes in racehorses showing exercise intolerance and signs of lower airway inflammation. The researchers identified notable differences between horses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and the control group, hinting at various underlying mechanisms at play in IAD.
Objective and Hypothesis
- The goal of the study was to explore the correlation between cytokine expression in BAL cells and cytology in racehorses with exercise intolerance and lower airway inflammation. The researchers hypothesized that such a correlation would exist.
Methods
- Thirty-one client-owned standardbred racehorses displaying exercise intolerance were involved in the study, which was prospective and observational in nature.
- BAL was used to extract cells for analysis. The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ was determined using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results
- Nine horses had normal BAL cell differential cytology (controls), while 22 horses showed signs of IAD based on their BAL fluid cytology.
- The study found that TNF-α, IL-4, and IFN-γ expressions were significantly higher in horses with IAD when compared to the control group. The results also showed that horses with increased metachromatic cell counts had increased IL-4 and IFN-γ expressions.
- However, the mRNA expression of IL-1β was found to be elevated only with airway neutrophilia.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that variations in gene expression are associated with the presence of IAD and specific cell types in the airway secretions of standardbred racehorses exhibiting poor performance.
- These results imply that different pathophysiological pathways could be implicated in IAD, providing potential avenues for better understanding this disease and its treatment in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Lavoie JP, Cesarini C, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Moran K, Lutz S, Picandet V, Jean D, Marcoux M.
(2011).
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology and cytokine messenger ribonucleic Acid expression of racehorses with exercise intolerance and lower airway inflammation.
J Vet Intern Med, 25(2), 322-329.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0664.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada. jean-pierre.lavoie@umontreal.ca
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchi / immunology
- Bronchi / metabolism
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Cytokines / metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses
- Lung Diseases / immunology
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Prospective Studies
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
Citations
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