Does BMP2 play a role in the pathogenesis of equine degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis?
Abstract: Horses afflicted with degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) suffer from progressive leg pain and lameness without history of trauma. DSLD is a systemic disorder caused by abnormal accumulation of proteoglycans in many connective tissues. One proteoglycan found in higher quantities in DSLD is decorin. The accumulated decorin has an abnormally glycosylated glycosaminoglycan chain in DSLD. In addition to acellular accumulations of proteoglycans foci of active fibroblasts/tenoblasts were observed in some tendons and suspensory ligaments (SLs) from DSLD cases We have hypothesized that this represents an early event in DSLD and that production of chondrogenic growth factors, such as BMP2, and/or enzyme participating in glycosylation of glycosaminoglycans is a major factor in initiation and progression of DSLD. Results: Using immunohistochemistry we have identified BMP2 in these cellular foci, indicating association with proteoglycan production, but not in other cells in the tendon and SLs. In contrast, very little staining for TGFβ and dermatan sulfate epimerase, an enzyme involved in glycosylation of glycosaminoglycan chains, was observed in these foci and other cells in both control and DSLD-affected tendons and SLs. Our data support our hypothesis that chondrogenic growth factors may be responsible, at least in part for progression of DSLD in horses.
Publication Date: 2018-09-18 PubMed ID: 30227887PubMed Central: PMC6145121DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3776-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The researchers are investigating the potential role of a specific growth factor, BMP2, in the development and progression of a painful and debilitating condition affecting horses, known as DSLD.
Study Overview
The study in question is exploring the involvement of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) in the cause and progression of a degenerative condition seen in horses, Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD). The condition causes progressive pain and immobility in the affected horse, and it isn’t related to any traumatic events. DSLD is known to be a systemic issue arising from the abnormal accumulation of certain proteins, known as proteoglycans, in various connective tissues within the horse’s body.
- The researchers studied the role of specific proteoglycans, particularly one called decorin, which they found in higher quantities in DSLD cases. The disorder caused an abnormal modification, or glycosylation, of glycosaminoglycan chains connected with decorin.
- Apart from the accumulation of proteoglycans, the research team observed areas of active fibroblasts and tenoblasts in some tendons and suspensory ligaments from DSLD-infected horses, suggesting this may be an early sign of the condition.
The team hypothesized that the production of chondrogenic growth factors, such as BMP2, and/or an enzyme involved in altering the structure of glycosaminoglycans, is a crucial factor in initiating and furthering the DSLD condition.
Results and Conclusion
To verify their hypothesis, researchers used immunohistochemistry, a laboratory process used to visually localize proteins in cells of a tissue section.
- They were able to identify BMP2 in the active cellular areas, suggesting a link to proteoglycan production. However, BMP2 was not found within other cells of the tendon and suspensory ligaments.
- Significantly less staining (meaning less of the substance was found) for Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ) and dermatan sulfate epimerase – the enzyme involved in glycosylation of glycosaminoglycan chains – was found, both in the active cellular regions and other cells, in both DSLD-affected and control tendons and suspensory ligaments.
The obtained results suggest that chondrogenic growth factors, such as BMP2, could be partially responsible for the development and progression of DSLD in horses, thereby supporting the initial hypothesis of the researchers.
Cite This Article
APA
Young M, Moshood O, Zhang J, Sarbacher CA, Mueller POE, Halper J.
(2018).
Does BMP2 play a role in the pathogenesis of equine degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis?
BMC Res Notes, 11(1), 672.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3776-9 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, AU/UGA Medical Partnership, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. jhalper@uga.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthritis
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / physiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Ligaments
- Male
- Tendons
- Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology
References
This article includes 17 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Momen M, Brauer K, Patterson MM, Sample SJ, Binversie EE, Davis BW, Cothran EG, Rosa GJM, Brounts SH, Muir P. Genetic architecture and polygenic risk score prediction of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) in the Peruvian Horse. Front Genet 2023;14:1201628.
- Roberts JH, Zhang J, David F, McLean A, Blumenshine K, Müller-Alander E, Halper J. Expression of genes with biomarker potential identified in skin from DSLD-affected horses increases with age. PLoS One 2023;18(7):e0287740.
- Momen M, Brounts SH, Binversie EE, Sample SJ, Rosa GJM, Davis BW, Muir P. Selection signature analyses and genome-wide association reveal genomic hotspot regions that reflect differences between breeds of horse with contrasting risk of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis. G3 (Bethesda) 2022 Sep 30;12(10).
- Roberts JH, Halper J. Connective Tissue Disorders in Domestic Animals. Adv Exp Med Biol 2021;1348:325-335.
- Haythorn A, Young M, Stanton J, Zhang J, Mueller POE, Halper J. Differential gene expression in skin RNA of horses affected with degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis. J Orthop Surg Res 2020 Oct 7;15(1):460.
- Kram V, Shainer R, Jani P, Meester JAN, Loeys B, Young MF. Biglycan in the Skeleton. J Histochem Cytochem 2020 Nov;68(11):747-762.
- Zappia J, Joiret M, Sanchez C, Lambert C, Geris L, Muller M, Henrotin Y. From Translation to Protein Degradation as Mechanisms for Regulating Biological Functions: A Review on the SLRP Family in Skeletal Tissues. Biomolecules 2020 Jan 3;10(1).
- Ribitsch I, Gueltekin S, Keith MF, Minichmair K, Peham C, Jenner F, Egerbacher M. Age-related changes of tendon fibril micro-morphology and gene expression. J Anat 2020 Apr;236(4):688-700.
- Guest DJ, Birch HL, Thorpe CT. A review of the equine suspensory ligament: Injury prone yet understudied. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1167-1182.
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