Differential association of MUC5AC and CLCA1 expression in small cartilaginous airways of RAO-affected and control horses.
Abstract: Airway mucus accumulation is associated with indoor irritant and allergen exposure in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and a chloride channel (calcium activated, family member 1; CLCA1) are key signalling molecules involved in mucin gene expression. Objective: We hypothesised that exposure to irritants and aeroallergens would lead to increased expression of the mucin gene eqMUC5AC and increased stored mucosubstance in the airways of RAO-affected horses, associated with increased neutrophils and CLCA1 and EGFR mRNA levels. Methods: We performed quantitative RT-PCR of eqMUC5AC, CLCA1 and EGFR; volume density measurements of intraepithelial mucosubstances; and cytological differentiation of intraluminal inflammatory cells in small cartilaginous airways from cranial left and right and caudal left and right lung lobes of 5 clinically healthy and 5 RAO-affected horses that had been exposed to indoor stable environment for 5 days before euthanasia. Results: Neutrophils were increased in RAO-affected horses compared to clinically healthy controls. EqMUC5AC mRNA levels were positively correlated with both CLCA1 and EGFR mRNA levels in RAO-affected horses but only with CLCA1 in controls. The relationship between eqMUC5AC and CLCA1 differed in the 2 groups of horses with RAO-affected animals overexpressing CLCA1 in relation to eqMUC5AC. Conclusions: These data implicate CLCA1 as a signalling molecule in the expression of eqMUC5AC in horses but also suggest differential regulation by CLCA1 and EGFR between horses with RAO and those with milder degrees of airway inflammation.
Publication Date: 2010-01-26 PubMed ID: 20095232DOI: 10.2746/042516409x443305Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study focuses on exploring the impact of indoor irritant and allergen exposure in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). It hypothesizes that such exposure increases expression of a particular gene called eqMUC5AC, which results in increased stored mucus in the airways of affected horses. This research further suggests that this process could be associated with increased neutrophils and two key signaling molecules, CLCA1 and EGFR.
Research Methodology
- The research utilized quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the levels of eqMUC5AC, CLCA1 and EGFR.
- The scientists carried out volume density measurements of mucosubstances present within the epithelial cells of the airways.
- Additionally, they performed cytological differentiation of inflammatory cells within the lumen of small cartilaginous airways.
- The samples for these investigations were collected from cranial left and right and caudal left and right lung lobes of both clinically healthy and RAO-affected horses. These horses had been exposed to an indoor stable environment for 5 days prior to euthanasia.
Research Findings
- New data suggest that the number of neutrophils, a type of inflammatory cell, increased in RAO-affected horses compared to clinically healthy controls.
- The levels of eqMUC5AC mRNA, the product of the mucin gene, showed positive correlation with both CLCA1 and EGFR mRNA levels in RAO-affected horses. However, in healthy controls, eqMUC5AC mRNA levels correlated only with CLCA1.
- The relationship between eqMUC5AC and CLCA1 differed between the two groups of horses. Horses with RAO demonstrated overexpression of CLCA1 in relation to eqMUC5AC.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that CLCA1 plays an essential role in eqMUC5AC gene expression in horses. However, it also suggests a differential regulation by CLCA1 and EGFR between horses suffering from RAO and those with milder forms of airway inflammation.
- This research contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying RAO and could aid in developing effective treatment strategies for affected horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Gerber V, De Feijter-Rupp H, Wagner J, Venta P, Harkema JR, Robinson NE.
(2010).
Differential association of MUC5AC and CLCA1 expression in small cartilaginous airways of RAO-affected and control horses.
Equine Vet J, 41(8), 817-823.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x443305 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Clinic, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Berne, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Airway Obstruction / veterinary
- Animals
- Chloride Channels / genetics
- Chloride Channels / metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
- Genetic Testing
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses
- Male
- Mucin 5AC / genetics
- Mucin 5AC / metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Tessier L, Côté O, Clark ME, Viel L, Diaz-Méndez A, Anders S, Bienzle D. Impaired response of the bronchial epithelium to inflammation characterizes severe equine asthma. BMC Genomics 2017 Sep 8;18(1):708.
- Mańkowska A, Witkowska D. The Most Common Environmental Risk Factors for Equine Asthma-A Narrative Review. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jul 14;14(14).
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