Expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in equine recurrent airway obstruction.
Abstract: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a cytokine involved in lymphocyte development. In humans and mice, TSLP drives the differentiation of T helper 2 (Th2) cells and the development of allergic inflammation. The equine TSLP gene has been previously identified and characterized, but its role in the pathogenesis of equine allergic diseases is not known. Our objective was to assess the expression of TSLP in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and in primary bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) isolated from horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). RNA was isolated from BAL cells sampled from clinical cases of RAO (n=8) and from control horses (n=12). Furthermore, BAL samples were taken from an additional group of 8 RAO-susceptible and 8 control horses when on pasture (remission) and after 30 days of exposure to moldy hay (exacerbation). In order to study epithelial cells as a potential source of TSLP, cultures of primary bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) were established from 6 RAO-affected and 6 healthy horses and stimulated in vitro with hay dust solution (HDS). Expression of TSLP mRNA was assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qPCR). Clinical RAO-cases had higher TSLP expression in BAL than control horses (p<0.05). In an experimental group of horses there was no difference between healthy and susceptible horses in remission, whereas after 30-day experimental exposure to moldy hay, all susceptible horses upregulated TSLP expression in BAL (p=0.008, average 6.36-fold increase), whereas in healthy horses there was no significant increase in TSLP expression. BEC generated both from healthy and RAO-affected horses strongly upregulated TSLP expression after 6 h stimulation with HDS, which identifies epithelial cells as potential sources of TSLP in RAO. Finding of increased TSLP expression by BAL cells of RAO-affected horses is in agreement with the contribution of Th2-driven allergic inflammation in the pathogenesis of RAO.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2012-01-31 PubMed ID: 22341524DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.01.019Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research explores the role of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP), a cytokine, in the development of Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), a common allergic disease in horses similar to human asthma. The study specifically observes the expression of TSLP in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and primary bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) of horses with RAO and finds an increased expression, indicating the involvement of Th2-driven allergic inflammation.
Objective of the Research
- The main aim of the study was to understand the role of Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) in equine RAO, an allergic disease affecting horses.
- The researchers wanted to find out if TSLP, which is known to drive the differentiation of T helper 2 (Th2) cells and the development of allergic inflammation in humans and mice, has similar effects in horses affected by RAO.
Methodology
- Researchers gathered RNA from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells taken from horses that clinically showed RAO symptoms and compared them to control horses.
- The RNA was also collected from other horses suspected of RAO and control horses, both in remission at a pasture and after exposure to moldy hay known to exacerbate the condition.
- Separately, bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) were also studied to determine if they could be a source of TSLP. These cells were collected from RAO-affected and healthy horses and then stimulated with a hay dust solution (HDS).
- The expression of TSLP mRNA in these samples was analyzed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qPCR).
Key Findings
- The research found that horses clinically suffering from RAO had a higher expression of TSLP in BAL cells compared to control horses.
- In the experiment group, there was no difference found in horses in remission, but those susceptible to RAO upregulated TSLP expression after a 30-day exposure to moldy hay.
- BECs from both RAO-affected and healthy horses showed a strong upregulation of TSLP expression after being stimulated with HDS, suggesting that these cells could potentially be the source of TSLP in RAO.
Conclusion
- The discovery of increased TSLP expression by BAL cells in RAO-affected horses suggests a role of Th2-driven allergic inflammation in RAO development.
- This understanding could aid in better management and treatment of RAO in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Klukowska-Rötzler J, Marti E, Lavoie JP, Ainsworth DM, Gerber V, Zurbriggen A, Janda J.
(2012).
Expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in equine recurrent airway obstruction.
Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 146(1), 46-52.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.01.019 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Airway Obstruction / etiology
- Airway Obstruction / immunology
- Airway Obstruction / veterinary
- Animals
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytokines / genetics
- Cytokines / physiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Male
- Recurrence
- Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Olomski F, Fettelschoss V, Jonsdottir S, Birkmann K, Thoms F, Marti E, Bachmann MF, Kündig TM, Fettelschoss-Gabriel A. Interleukin 31 in insect bite hypersensitivity-Alleviating clinical symptoms by active vaccination against itch. Allergy 2020 Apr;75(4):862-871.
- Tessier L, Côté O, Bienzle D. Sequence variant analysis of RNA sequences in severe equine asthma. PeerJ 2018;6:e5759.
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