Comparison of TGF-beta 1 concentrations in bronchoalveolar fluid of horses affected with heaves and of normal controls.
Abstract: Airway remodeling may play an important role in heaves pathophysiology. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent profibrotic cytokine, which might contribute to airway wall thickening and fibrosis of bronchiolar and alveolar submucosa. An ELISA designed for the measurement of human TGF-beta1 was used to measured total TGF-beta1 released in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of normal horses and of those affected with heaves in remission. The specificity of the assay for TGF-beta1 of the horse was confirmed using recombinant equine TGF-beta1. The influence of hay exposure on TGF-beta1 release in the airways was also examined by stabling horses in a dusty environment. TGF-beta1 was found in the BALF of all horses. However, no significant difference between basal concentration of TGF-beta1 in BALF of control horses versus that of horses affected with heaves was found. Furthermore, no differences were identified in these populations 1 and 9 days after allergen challenge. In conclusion, these data indicate that TGF-beta1 is released in BALF fluid of horses in biologically active concentrations. Other studies are necessary for a better definition of the role of this cytokine within the lung, as our study does not establish a causal relationship between TGF-beta1 and the pathophysiology of heaves in the horse.
Publication Date: 2004-09-08 PubMed ID: 15350743DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2004.03.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper explores the role of Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), a potent profibrotic cytokine, in equine respiratory disorder called ‘heaves’. An experiment was conducted using an assay to measure the TGF-beta1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of normal horses and horses with heaves. However, the study revealed no significant difference in concentration of TGF-beta1 in both cases indicating that though TGF-beta1 is released in biologically active concentrations in BALF of horses, it doesn’t establish a clear causal link with the disease ‘heaves’.
Understanding the Experiment
- The study aimed to determine if the cytokine TGF-beta1 was involved in airway remodeling in horses affected with a respiratory condition known as heaves.
- TGF-beta1 is produced and released by many types of cells and it stimulates the production of extracellular matrix, leading to fibrosis, or tissue thickening. The research inferred that this might contribute to airway wall thickening and fibrosis of bronchiolar and alveolar submucosa, common factors noted in horses affected with heaves.
- To verify this, a linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed for human TGF-beta1 was used to measure the levels of this cytokine in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of both normal horses and those affected with heaves in remission.
- The appropriateness of this assay for equine TGF-beta1 was validated using recombinant equine TGF-beta1.
Findings of the Study
- The researchers found TGF-beta1 in the BALF of all horses. The data revealed no significant difference in the basal concentration of this cytokine between healthy horses and those affected with heaves.
- To further investigate any potential influence of allergen exposure on TGF-beta1 release, the researchers exposed the horses to a dusty environment. However, no significant differences were noted in TGF-beta1 levels one and nine days after this allergen challenge.
Conclusion of the Study
- It was concluded that though TGF-beta1 is present and released in biologically active concentrations in the BALF of horses, the study could not establish a clear causal relationship between this cytokine and the pathophysiology of heaves in horses.
- More studies would be necessary to better define the role of this cytokine within the horse’s lung environment to fully understand its involvement in respiratory disorders like heaves.
Cite This Article
APA
Desjardins I, Theoret C, Joubert P, Wagner B, Lavoie JP.
(2004).
Comparison of TGF-beta 1 concentrations in bronchoalveolar fluid of horses affected with heaves and of normal controls.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 101(3-4), 133-141.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2004.03.008 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departement de Sciences Cliniques, Faculte de Medecine Veterinaire, University de Montreal, St. Hyacinthe, Canada J2S 7C6.
MeSH Terms
- Allergens
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
- CHO Cells
- Cricetinae
- Dust
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / immunology
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / metabolism
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / pathology
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / veterinary
- Recombinant Proteins / immunology
- Respiratory Function Tests / veterinary
- Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Rutledge JJ, Paegelow J, Ritchey J, Singh A, Rizzi T, Murray C, Gilliam L, Crisman E, Williams NJ, Holbrook TC. Nebulized glycosylated caffeic acid phenylether ester attenuation of environmental particulate-induced airway inflammation in horses.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:958567.
- Hagen A, Lehmann H, Aurich S, Bauer N, Melzer M, Moellerberndt J, Patané V, Schnabel CL, Burk J. Scalable Production of Equine Platelet Lysate for Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Culture.. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020;8:613621.
- Bond SL, Workentine M, Hundt J, Gilkerson JR, Léguillette R. Effects of nebulized dexamethasone on the respiratory microbiota and mycobiota and relative equine herpesvirus-1, 2, 4, 5 in an equine model of asthma.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jan;34(1):307-321.
- Klier J, Bartl C, Geuder S, Geh KJ, Reese S, Goehring LS, Winter G, Gehlen H. Immunomodulatory asthma therapy in the equine animal model: A dose-response study and evaluation of a long-term effect.. Immun Inflamm Dis 2019 Sep;7(3):130-149.
- 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.
- Seabaugh KA, Thoresen M, Giguère S. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Increases Growth Factor Release from Equine Platelet-Rich Plasma In Vitro.. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:205.
- Ivester KM, Couëtil LL, Zimmerman NJ. Investigating the link between particulate exposure and airway inflammation in the horse.. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Nov-Dec;28(6):1653-65.
- Hamza E, Gerber V, Steinbach F, Marti E. Equine CD4(+) CD25(high) T cells exhibit regulatory activity by close contact and cytokine-dependent mechanisms in vitro.. Immunology 2011 Nov;134(3):292-304.
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