Cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from horses with neutrophilic inflammatory airway disease.
Abstract: Multiple cytological patterns occur in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of horses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Only few data on BALF cytokine profiles are available for horses with IAD, and are limited to mRNA expression. Objective: Cytological profiles of IAD are associated with different BALF immunological pathways. To investigate BALF cytokine concentrations in a large number of horses with neutrophilic IAD. Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight client-owned Standardbred racehorses in active training. Methods: Prospective observational study. BALF samples were obtained from left and right lungs. Interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations were determined by ELISA. Results: Fourteen horses had normal BALF cytological profiles and 56 exhibited evidence of bilateral neutrophilic IAD. Twenty-four horses showed BALF with, respectively, IAD- and CTL consistent cytology and were excluded; as were 44 horses because of evidence of pulmonary hemorrhage. TNF-α (56 ± 115 pg/mL; P = .034) and IFN-γ concentrations (104 ± 247 pg/mL; P = .044) were significantly higher for IAD horses, compared with controls (respectively 19 ± 41 and 80 ± 116 pg/mL). Horses with 'neutrophil' subtype had significantly higher IFN-γ concentrations (110 ± 154 pg/mL), than 'neutrophil/metachromatic' (56 ± 54 pg/mL; P = .028) and 'neutrophil/metachromatic/eosinophil' subtypes (44 ± 23 pg/mL; P = .012). Conclusions: Cytokine concentrations in BALF suggested that neutrophilic IAD is associated with activation of the innate immune system and a possible T-helper (Th)-1 polarized response. This study also suggested that immunological pathways vary according to cytological IAD subtypes.
Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2014-09-30 PubMed ID: 25269933PubMed Central: PMC4895612DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12464Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Observational Study
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Clinical Study
- Cytokines
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Immune Response
- Immunology
- In Vivo
- Inflammatory Response
- Interleukins
- Lung Health
- Neutrophils
- Observational Study
- Pathophysiology
- Respiratory Disease
- Standardbred Horses
- Tumor Necrosis Factor
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
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This study looked into the relationship between different types of inflammatory airway disease (IAD) in horses and the particular immune responses they trigger. Researchers found that horses with a particular subtype of IAD, called neutrophilic IAD, have certain distinguishing biochemical markers – they exhibit higher cytokine concentrations in the fluid found in their lungs, indicating an activation of the innate immune system, and possibly, a T-helper (Th)-1 type immune response.
Study Objective and Methods
- The research aimed to investigate and compare BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) cytokine concentrations in a large population of horses displaying signs of neutrophilic inflammatory airway disease.
- The study was an observational one, with samples collected from 138 Standardbred racehorses being examined. BALF samples were collected from their left and right lungs, after which concentrations of Interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined using ELISA.
Results
- Of the total, 14 horses displayed normal BALF cytological profiles while 56 showed signs of bilateral neutrophilic IAD. The rest either showed different BALF cytology consistent with IAD and CTL, or showed signs of pulmonary hemorrhage and were excluded from the study.
- The study observed significantly higher TNF-α (56 ± 115 pg/mL; P = .034) and IFN-γ concentrations (104 ± 247 pg/mL; P = .044) in horses with IAD, in contrast to control horses where the numbers were 19 ± 41 and 80 ± 116 pg/mL respectively.
- Furthermore, horses with the ‘neutrophil’ subtype had significantly higher IFN-γ concentrations (110 ± 154 pg/mL), compared to ‘neutrophil/metachromatic’ (56 ± 54 pg/mL; P = .028) and ‘neutrophil/metachromatic/eosinophil’ subtypes (44 ± 23 pg/mL; P = .012).
Conclusions
- The study findings suggested that neutrophilic IAD is associated with activation of the innate immune system and a possible T-helper (Th)-1 polarized response. This is indicated by the higher cytokine concentrations observed in the horses with this subtype.
- Importantly, the study noted that these immune responses varied across different IAD subtypes, pointing to a range of immunological pathways that are activated within these subtypes.
Cite This Article
APA
Richard EA, Depecker M, Defontis M, Leleu C, Fortier G, Pitel PH, Couroucé-Malblanc A.
(2014).
Cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from horses with neutrophilic inflammatory airway disease.
J Vet Intern Med, 28(6), 1838-1844.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12464 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, SF 4206 ICORE/LABÉO Frank Duncombe, 14053, Caen Cedex 4, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Cytokines / analysis
- Female
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Inflammation / immunology
- Inflammation / physiopathology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Interferon-gamma / analysis
- Interleukin-4 / analysis
- Male
- Neutrophils / immunology
- Neutrophils / physiology
- Prospective Studies
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / immunology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / physiopathology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / analysis
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