Evaluation of the systemic acute phase response and endometrial gene expression of serum amyloid A and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mares with experimentally induced endometritis.
Abstract: Infectious infertility in the mare is clinically well described, little is however known about the systemic acute phase reaction (APR) and local immunological responses accompanying equine endometritis. The aim of this study was to monitor selected markers of the APR in the systemic circulation and to correlate them to the local innate immune response in the uterus during infectious endometritis. Six adult standard bred mares received an intrauterine infusion of 10(9)CFU Escherichia coli. Blood samples were obtained before (0 h) and 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h post inoculation (pi), and endometrial biopsies were sampled before, and 3, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h pi. The infectious endometritis elicited a systemic APR with significantly increased concentrations of the acute phase proteins (APPs) serum amyloid A (SAA) and fibrinogen. Relative gene expression analyses were performed on extracted RNA from endometrial biopsies using quantitative real-time PCR and specific primers for SAA and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Expression of SAA was significantly up-regulated at 3 and 12h pi, and a significant up-regulated expression of IL-1β, TNFα, IL-8 and IL-10 was observed at 3h pi. Plasma concentration of SAA was significantly correlated to endometrial SAA expression. The results of the present study demonstrate that endometritis gives rise to a systemic APR and an up-regulated endometrial gene expression of SAA and several pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Understanding endometrial expression of acute phase proteins and selected cytokines contributing to uterine immunity in equine endometritis could improve understanding of events leading to infertility in the mare and help identify candidate genes of mediators/markers for diagnostic use.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2010-07-21 PubMed ID: 20728224DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.07.011Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study investigates the systemic and local immune response in mares during infectious endometritis, an inflammation of the uterus, with particular focus on acute phase proteins and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The finding suggests that infectious endometritis leads to a systemic acute phase response and increased uterine gene expression of serum amyloid A and several pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, which may help understand infertility in mares and devise diagnostic markers.
Research Context and Overview
- The research focuses on infectious infertility in mares, particularly endometritis, inflammation of the uterus lining. Although this condition is well described clinically, information was limited on the systemic acute phase reaction (APR) and local immunological responses during endometritis.
- The study’s main aim was to track chosen APR markers in the systemic circulation and how they correlate to the local innate immune response in the uterus during infectious endometritis.
Methodology
- Six adult standard bred mares were infused with a bacteria known as Escherichia coli into their uteri. Blood samples and endometrial biopsies were taken at several intervals before and after bacterial inoculation.
- These samples were studied to monitor the systemic APR, with serum amyloid A (SAA) and fibrinogen being the specific proteins of interest.
- Relative gene expression analyses, using quantitative real-time PCR, were performed on the RNA extracted from the endometrial biopsies. It focused on the expression of SAA and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Major Findings
- The onset of infectious endometritis brought about a systemic APR, with significant increase in the concentrations of acute phase proteins SAA and fibrinogen.
- The expression of SAA markedly upregulated in the uterus at 3 and 12 hours post bacterial inoculation.
- There was also a significant increase in the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, TNFα, IL-8 and IL-10 at 3 hours post inoculation.
- The systemic concentrations of SAA in plasma correlated significantly with the endometrial SAA expression.
Conclusions
- The results demonstrate that infectious endometritis triggers both a systemic APR and an up-regulated uterine gene expression of SAA and multiple pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
- Understanding the uterine expression of these proteins and cytokines in endometritis could clarify the processes leading to infertility in mares and help identify potential genes of mediators or markers for diagnostic uses.
Cite This Article
APA
Christoffersen M, Baagoe CD, Jacobsen S, Bojesen AM, Petersen MR, Lehn-Jensen H.
(2010).
Evaluation of the systemic acute phase response and endometrial gene expression of serum amyloid A and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mares with experimentally induced endometritis.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 138(1-2), 95-105.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2010.07.011 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Section for Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlaegevej 68, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. metc@life.ku.dk
MeSH Terms
- Acute-Phase Reaction / blood
- Acute-Phase Reaction / genetics
- Acute-Phase Reaction / immunology
- Acute-Phase Reaction / veterinary
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Biomarkers / blood
- Cytokines / genetics
- DNA Primers / genetics
- Endometritis / blood
- Endometritis / genetics
- Endometritis / immunology
- Endometritis / veterinary
- Escherichia coli Infections / blood
- Escherichia coli Infections / genetics
- Escherichia coli Infections / immunology
- Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Infertility, Female / blood
- Infertility, Female / genetics
- Infertility, Female / immunology
- Infertility, Female / veterinary
- Inflammation Mediators / blood
- Serum Amyloid A Protein / genetics
Citations
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