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Journal of animal science2018; 97(1); 184-191; doi: 10.1093/jas/sky423

Effects of repeated arthrocentesis on systemic cytokine expression and leukocyte population in young horses challenged with intra-articular lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and economically costly source of lameness in the athletic horse. Previous studies investigating OA pathology have focused on localized trauma to the articular cartilage of a joint, largely ignoring the systemic immune status of the animal. In this study, yearling Quarter Horses were used to evaluate systemic cytokine gene expression and circulating leukocytes following a localized intra-articular inflammatory insult of the endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treatments for the 35-d experiment included an intra-articular injection of 0.25 ng (n = 7) or 0.50 ng (n = 6) of LPS obtained from Escherichia coli O55:B5 or sterile lactated Ringer's solution (n = 6; control) into the radial carpal joint. Blood and synovial fluid samples were collected at preinjection hour 0 and 2, 6, 12, and 24 h postinjection. Synovial fluid was obtained for a companion study. Total RNA was isolated from plasma leukocytes and real-time PCR was used to determine relative gene expression of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta (β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Total leukocyte subpopulations and differentials were performed using a cell counter. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. Gene expression of all cytokines were unaffected by intra-articular treatment. However, IL-1β increased above baseline beginning at hour 6 and remained elevated to 24 h (P = 0.04). In contrast, IL-6 decreased from hours 6 to 12 and then increased to 24 h (P = 0.02). Levels of TNF-α increased at 6 and 12 h (P = 0.01) postinjection. Only IL-8 exceeded a 2-fold change in expression (P = 0.01), peaking at 12 h and indicating greater responsiveness to arthrocentesis when compared with other cytokines. No treatment effects on the leukocyte population were observed; however, total circulating leukocytes increased over time (P = 0.04), peaking at 6 h postinjection. Similarly, an increase over time was observed in monocytes (P = 0.02) and in platelets (P = 0.01) at 24 h postinjection. The results indicate that regardless of treatment, a mild immune response was elicited, which may be due to repeated arthrocentesis. Future experiments should consider the effects of arthrocentesis and potential systemic inflammatory response, even in control animals, when administering intra-articular LPS to young horses.
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Publication Date: 2018-11-14 PubMed ID: 30423145PubMed Central: PMC6313106DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky423Google 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.

This research investigates the systemic immune response, including cytokine gene expression and circulating leukocytes, in young horses following an intra-articular inflammatory trigger. A better understanding of this reaction could provide insights into the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, a common and expensive cause of lameness in sporting horses.

Research Method

  • In the 35-day experiment, yearling Quarter Horses were injected into the radial carpal joint with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Escherichia coli (either 0.25 ng or 0.50 ng) or a lactated Ringer’s solution as a control. The LPS injection serves to trigger an arthritic-like immune response within the joint.
  • Blood and synovial fluid samples were collected before the injection and at multiple time points (2, 6, 12, and 24 hours) afterwards. The synovial fluid samples were used in a separate study.
  • The cytokine gene expression patterns for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α in plasma leukocytes were measured using real-time PCR. These cytokines are critical mediators in the immune response, particularly in inflammation.
  • Additionally, total leukocyte subpopulations and differentials were counted to evaluate circulating white blood cell populations.

Results

  • The intra-articular treatment had no effect on gene expression of all cytokines. However, there were changes in levels over time for multiple cytokines. IL-1β levels increased from 6 hours post-injection and remained elevated until the last observed point at 24 hours. IL-6 levels first went down from 6 to 12 hours before increasing at 24 hours. TNF-α levels increased at 6 and 12 hours.
  • Among all the cytokines, only IL-8 showed more than a two-fold change in expression, suggesting a stronger response to the arthrocentesis process compared to the other cytokines.
  • The study found no effect of treatment on the population of leukocytes. However, the total counts of circulating leukocytes, monocytes, and platelets all increased over time, indicating a general immune response.

Implications

  • Despite the variation in treatment, all horses showed a mild immune response, potentially attributable to the repeated arthrocentesis itself. This implies that even the control animals without an intra-articular inflammation trigger may still experience an immune response due to the procedure.
  • The researchers suggest that future studies examining the responses to intra-articular LPS in young horses should consider the potential impact of arthrocentesis and a possible systemic inflammatory response.

Cite This Article

APA
Hunt CL, Leatherwood JL, Coverdale JA, Sigler DL, Vogelsang MM, Arnold CE. (2018). Effects of repeated arthrocentesis on systemic cytokine expression and leukocyte population in young horses challenged with intra-articular lipopolysaccharide. J Anim Sci, 97(1), 184-191. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/sky423

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 97
Issue: 1
Pages: 184-191

Researcher Affiliations

Hunt, Carrie L
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Leatherwood, Jessica Lucia
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Coverdale, Josie Ann
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Sigler, Dennis L
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Vogelsang, Martha M
  • Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Arnold, Carolyn E
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arthrocentesis / veterinary
  • Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Endotoxins / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Horses
  • Injections, Intra-Articular / veterinary
  • Leukocytes / drug effects
  • Lipopolysaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Random Allocation
  • Synovial Fluid / drug effects

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Rowland AL, Burns ME, Levine GJ, Watts AE. Preparation Technique Affects Recipient Immune Targeting of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:724041.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.724041pubmed: 34595230google scholar: lookup
  2. Watkins A, Fasanello D, Stefanovski D, Schurer S, Caracappa K, D'Agostino A, Costello E, Freer H, Rollins A, Read C, Su J, Colville M, Paszek M, Wagner B, Reesink H. Investigation of synovial fluid lubricants and inflammatory cytokines in the horse: a comparison of recombinant equine interleukin 1 beta-induced synovitis and joint lavage models. BMC Vet Res 2021 May 12;17(1):189.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02873-2pubmed: 33980227google scholar: lookup
  3. Millican AA, Leatherwood JL, Coverdale JA, Arnold CE, Bradbery AN, Larson CK, Lamprecht ED, White SH, Paulk CB, Welsh TH Jr, Wickersham TA. Evaluation of dietary trace mineral supplementation in young horses challenged with intra-articular lipopolysaccharide. Transl Anim Sci 2020 Apr;4(2):txaa006.
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  4. Duggan MJS, Kearney C, Baltrimaite M, Labberté MC, Gibney R, Brama PAJ. Refinement of the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Synovitis Model in Equine Middle Carpal Joints. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 22;15(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15172474pubmed: 40941269google scholar: lookup
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