Gene expression of proteolytic systems and growth regulators of skeletal muscle in horses with myopathy associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.
Abstract: To investigate gene expression of the major proteolytic systems and growth regulators in skeletal muscle of horses with myopathy associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Methods: 14 horses with PPID-associated myopathy and 7 healthy control horses. Methods: Horses with PPID and controls were age matched (15 to 28 years old). Muscle biopsy specimens were collected from both groups and processed for RNA and cDNA extraction. Validation of the most stable housekeeping genes for skeletal muscle was performed and used to compare gene expression of the following proteolytic systems: cysteine aspartate protease-dependent systems (caspases), lysosomal-dependent systems (cathepsins), non-lysosomal calcium protease-dependent systems (calpains), and ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent systems (ubiquitins). Gene expression of negative regulators of muscle growth (myostatin and inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) was also determined. Results: No significant difference between groups was detected in expression of the major proteolytic systems except for m-calpain, which was greater in horses with PPID. No differences in gene expression of myostatin and interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were detected between groups. Conclusions: Greater expression of m-calpain may suggest that calpains play an important role in development of muscle atrophy in horses with PPID. However, because posttranslational events may alter protein activation, inactivation, and functions not studied here, other mechanisms of muscle atrophy cannot be excluded.
Publication Date: 2010-06-02 PubMed ID: 20513182DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.71.6.664Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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.
The research delves into the gene expression of various proteolytic systems and growth regulators in the skeletal muscle of horses afflicted with a specific type of myopathy related to pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Mainly, the report found that there was a higher expression of m-calpain in horses with this condition, suggesting that calpains could have a role in muscle atrophy development in such cases.
Research Methods
- The study utilized 14 horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID)-associated myopathy and 7 healthy control horses for the exploration.
- The horses in both groups were age-matched, ranging from 15 to 28 years old.
- Muscle biopsy samples were gathered from the horses in both groups. The samples underwent RNA and cDNA extraction processing.
- The researchers carried out a validation process for the most stable housekeeping genes associated with skeletal muscle. These genes were subsequently utilized as a basis to compare the gene expression of different proteolytic systems, i.e., caspases, cathepsins, calpains, and ubiquitins.
- Additionally, the gene expression of several negative regulators of muscle growth, such as myostatin and inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, were also examined.
Research Findings
- The research findings showed no significant discrepancy between the two groups in terms of the expression of the primary proteolytic systems, except for m-calpain.
- The m-calpain was found to be more present in horses with PPID.
- There was no detectable difference in gene expressions of myostatin, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha between the two groups.
Research Conclusion
- Based on the research results, the higher expression of m-calpain in horses suffering from PPID could suggest that calpains play a significant part in muscle atrophy development in these cases.
- Though, in spite of this finding, due to potential posttranslational alterations which may modify protein activation, deactivation, and functions, other mechanisms of muscle atrophy are not ruled out and could still play a role.
Cite This Article
APA
Aleman M, Nieto JE.
(2010).
Gene expression of proteolytic systems and growth regulators of skeletal muscle in horses with myopathy associated with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.
Am J Vet Res, 71(6), 664-670.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.71.6.664 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. mraleman@ucdavis.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biopsy / veterinary
- Cytokines / biosynthesis
- Cytokines / genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
- Horse Diseases / enzymology
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
- Myostatin / biosynthesis
- Myostatin / genetics
- Peptide Hydrolases / biosynthesis
- Peptide Hydrolases / genetics
- Pituitary Gland, Intermediate / enzymology
- Pituitary Gland, Intermediate / pathology
- RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Statistics, Nonparametric
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Kirkwood NC, Hughes KJ, Stewart AJ. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) in Horses. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 10;9(10).
- Shepard MK, Lee WL, Eggleston RB. Perianesthetic development of diaphragmatic hernia in a horse with equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Can Vet J 2015 Jan;56(1):48-52.
- Ding W, Gong W, Bou T, Shi L, Lin Y, Shi X, Li Z, Wu H, Dugarjaviin M, Bai D. Whole-Genome Resequencing Analysis of Copy Number Variations Associated with Athletic Performance in Grassland-Thoroughbred. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 18;15(10).
- Ding W, Gong W, Bou T, Shi L, Lin Y, Wu H, Dugarjaviin M, Bai D. Pilot Study on the Profiling and Functional Analysis of mRNA, miRNA, and lncRNA in the Skeletal Muscle of Mongolian Horses, Xilingol Horses, and Grassland-Thoroughbreds. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 13;15(8).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
