Differential Expression of Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 and Ancillary Protein CD147 in Red Blood Cells of Show Jumping Horses.

This study is about comparing the levels of the lactate transporter complex proteins in the red blood cells of two different breeds of show jumping horses and determining a possible connection to their jumping ability.

Objective and Methodology

• The research aims to examine if there is a difference in the levels of Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1) and its auxiliary protein, Cluster of Differentiation 147 (CD147), in the red blood cells of two breeds of show jumping horses: the Brazilian Sport Horses and the European Warmbloods. Furthermore, the study seeks to correlate these levels with the jumping ability of the horses.
• The researchers collected red blood cells from 30 show jumping horses, 17 from Brazilian Sport Horses, and 13 from European Warmbloods.
• The expression levels of MCT1 and CD147 in the red blood cell membranes were quantified using horse-specific antibodies and a Western blot technique. The results were then subjected to statistical analyses through unpaired Student t-test and Chi-squared test.

Results

• It was found that 88% of Brazilian Sport Horses were classified as having high lactate transporters due to a higher expression of MCT1 and CD147 proteins. The remaining 12% were classified as low lactate transporters.
• Conversely, 77% of European Warmbloods were categorized as low lactate transporters with lower expression of these proteins. The remaining 23% showed higher expression levels, thus being classified as high lactate transporters.
• Therefore, it was deduced that Brazilian Sport Horses exhibit significantly higher levels of CD147 and MCT1 than their European Warmblood counterparts.

Interpretation

• The horses’ ability to transport lactate through the MCT1-CD147 complex appears to be breed dependent.
• Importantly, the study found that horses capable of jumping higher obstacles showed lower levels of the MCT1-CD147 complex in their red blood cells, hinting at a possible link between the levels of these proteins and jumping ability.