Expression of lactate transporters MCT1, MCT2 and CD147 in the red blood cells of three horse breeds: Finnhorse, Standardbred and Thoroughbred.
Abstract: In exercising horses, up to 50% of blood lactate is taken up into red blood cells (RBCs). Lactate transporter proteins MCT1, MCT2 and CD147 (an ancillary protein for MCT1) are expressed in the equine RBC membrane. In Standardbreds (SB), lactate transport activity is bimodally distributed and correlates with the amount of MCT1 and CD147. About 75% of SB studied have high lactate transport activity in RBCs. In other breeds, the distribution of lactate transport activity is unknown. Objective: To study whether similar bimodal distribution of MCT1 and CD147 is present also in the racing Finnhorse (FH) and Thoroughbred (TB) as in the SB and to study the distribution of MCT2 in all 3 breeds and to determine if there is a connection between MCT expression and performance markers in TB racehorses. Methods: Venous blood samples were taken from 118 FHs, 98 TBs and 44 SBs. Red blood cell membranes were purified and MCT1, MCT2 and CD147 measured by western blot. The amount of transporters was compared with TB performance markers. Results: In TBs, the distribution of MCT1 was bimodal and in all breeds distribution of MCT2 unimodal. The amount of CD147 was clearly bimodal in FH and SB, with 85 and 82% expressing high amounts of CD147. In TBs, 88% had high expression of CD147 and 11% low expression, but one horse showed intermediate expression not apparent in FH or SB. Performance markers did not correlate with the amount of MCT1, MCT2 or CD147. Conclusions: High lactate transport activity was present in all 3 racing breeds, with the greatest proportion in the TB, followed by the racing FH, then SB. There was no significant statistical correlation found between lactate transporters in RBC membrane and markers of racing performance in the TB.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-27 PubMed ID: 21059000DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00205.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study investigates the expression of lactate transport proteins in the red blood cells of three horse breeds – Finnhorse, Standardbred and Thoroughbred – to understand their lactate transport activity and its correlation, if any, with their racing performance. It is found that all three breeds show high lactate transport activity, but there is no direct correlation with performance markers.
Objective of the Research
- The aim of the study was to investigate the bimodal distribution of the MCT1 and CD147 lactate transporting proteins in the racing Finnhorse and Thoroughbred breeds, which was previously observed in the Standardbred breed.
- The researchers also wanted to study the distribution of the MCT2 lactate transporter in all three breeds.
- The study further aimed to explore if there is a connection between the expression of MCT proteins and performance markers in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Methods Employed
- Venous blood samples were taken from horses of all three breeds (118 Finnhorses, 98 Thoroughbreds, and 44 Standardbreds).
- The red blood cell membranes were then purified and the amounts of MCT1, MCT2 and CD147 were measured using a technique called western blot.
- The researchers compared the amounts of these transporters with the performance markers of the Thoroughbred horses.
Key Findings
- The distribution of MCT1 was found to be bimodal in the Thoroughbred horses, while MCT2 showed unimodal distribution in all three breeds.
- The CD147 protein’s quantity was clearly bimodal in racing Finnhorse and Standardbreds. In Thoroughbreds, 88% showed high CD147 expression, 11% showed low expression, and 1 horse showed an intermediate expression level which was not seen in Finnhorse or Standardbreds.
- There was no correlation observed between the amount of MCT1, MCT2 or CD147 and the performance markers in Thoroughbred horses.
Conclusions
- All three racing breeds displayed high lactate transport activity, with the Thoroughbred breed showing the highest proportion, followed by racing Finnhorse, and then Standardbreds.
- Despite the various levels of lactate transport activity among the breeds, no significant statistical correlation was found between the lactate transporters in the red blood cell membrane and the markers of racing performance in the Thoroughbred breed.
Cite This Article
APA
Mykkänen AK, Pösö AR, McGowan CM, McKane SA.
(2011).
Expression of lactate transporters MCT1, MCT2 and CD147 in the red blood cells of three horse breeds: Finnhorse, Standardbred and Thoroughbred.
Equine Vet J Suppl(38), 161-166.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00205.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland. anna.mykkanen@helsinki.fi
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Basigin / genetics
- Basigin / metabolism
- Erythrocytes / metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
- Horses / blood
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / metabolism
- Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / genetics
- Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / metabolism
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Peter VG, O'Keeffe TA, Smith LCR, Schweizer-Gorgas D. Radiographic Identification of Osseous Cyst- Like Lesions in the Distal Phalanx in 22 Lame Thoroughbred Horses Managed Conservatively and Their Racing Performance.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:286.
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