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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(2); 308; doi: 10.3390/ani13020308

Differential Expression of Innate and Adaptive Immune Genes during Acute Physical Exercise in American Quarter Horses.

Abstract: Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is the reduction in performance due to excess training and lack of proper recovery, which can lead to a chronic deprivation of energy and reduction in the repair of damage that can accumulate over time. Here, the effect of acute, intense physical exercise on the expression of innate and adaptive immune genes in 12 racing-bred American Quarter Horses, after resting for 3 days and immediately after intense exercise for 1.8 miles were compared. The expression of 84 genes related to innate and adaptive immune responses was analyzed. Significant variation among individuals and between sexes was observed. The analysis showed that five genes were differentially expressed in both females and males, three only in females, and two in males. The upregulated genes were IL13 (male only), CCR4 (female only), TLR6, TLR9 (female only), NFKBIA, CXCR3, and TLR4, while the downregulated genes were IL6 (female only), CD4 (male only), and MYD88. The three main pathways containing genes that were affected by acute, intense physical exercise were Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, and the NF-kappa B and chemokine signaling pathways, suggesting the activation of the proinflammatory responses as a result of the stress from the acute exercise. Gene expression could be used to assess indications of OTS.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-16 PubMed ID: 36670847PubMed Central: PMC9854435DOI: 10.3390/ani13020308Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research is exploring the effects of high intensity physical exercise on the immune system of American Quarter Horses. It particularly investigates how different genes related to the immune response change in their activity level immediately after exercise, and how these changes could indicate the onset of Overtraining Syndrome (OTS).

Context and Objective of Research

  • The study is positioned within the broader field of animal sports science, focusing on American Quarter Horses, a breed specifically developed for racing purposes.
  • The primary objective of this research is to understand how acute physical exercise affects the expression of certain immune-related genes in these horses, with a particular focus on sex-specific variations.
  • Overtraining Syndrome (OTS) is identified as a key problem, consequent to excessive training without adequate recovery. This condition presents as a drop in the horse’s performance level, primarily caused by a chronic energy deficit and decreased repair of accumulated damage over time.
  • The researchers are interested in understanding whether changes in gene expression patterns after intense exercise could be used as an early indicator of OTS.

Methodology and Results

  • The study examined 12 racing-bred American Quarter Horses, studied after 3 days of rest and instantly after they had undergone intense exercise by covering 1.8 miles.
  • The scientists observed the expression of 84 genes associated with the innate and adaptive immune responses of the body.
  • Results indicated that there was significant individual and sex-based variation in how these genes responded to exercise.
  • Specifically, five genes showed altered expression in both male and female horses, three appeared only in females, and two only in males.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The observations of the research suggest that acute, intense physical exercise triggers altered gene expression, activating a pro-inflammatory response, likely as a stress reaction.
  • The study identifies three key pathways – Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, NF-kappa B, and chemokine signaling – where genes affected by the intense exercise are involved. These pathways play critical roles in the body’s immune response.
  • The researchers propose that monitoring gene expression could serve as a novel method to detect early signs of OTS, providing a tool for preventing the condition in race horses.
  • This research contributes to the understanding of the biological processes triggered by exercise in horses, providing a foundation for enhancing the performance and welfare of racing animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Wilson J, De Donato M, Appelbaum B, Garcia CT, Peters S. (2023). Differential Expression of Innate and Adaptive Immune Genes during Acute Physical Exercise in American Quarter Horses. Animals (Basel), 13(2), 308. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13020308

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
PII: 308

Researcher Affiliations

Wilson, Judith
  • Department of Animal Science, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA.
De Donato, Marcos
  • Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenierías y Ciencias, Querétaro, CP 76130, Mexico.
  • The Center for Aquaculture Technologies, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
Appelbaum, Brooke
  • Department of Animal Science, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA.
Garcia, Carly Turner
  • Lazy E Ranch, Guthrie, OK 73044, USA.
Peters, Sunday
  • Department of Animal Science, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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