Heaves, an asthma-like disease of horses.

Leclere, M
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Lavoie-Lamoureux, A
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Lavoie, JP

Abstract: Animal models have been developed to investigate specific components of asthmatic airway inflammation, hyper-responsiveness or remodelling. However, all of these aspects are rarely observed in the same animal. Heaves is a naturally occurring disease of horses that combines these features. It is characterized by stable dust-induced inflammation, bronchospasm and remodelling. The evaluation of horses during well-controlled natural antigen exposure and avoidance in experimental settings allows the study of disease mechanisms in the asymptomatic and symptomatic stages, an approach rarely feasible in humans. Also, the disease can be followed over several years to observe the cumulative effect of repeated episodes of clinical exacerbation or to evaluate long-term treatment, contrasting most murine asthma models. This model has shown complex gene and environment interactions, the involvement of both innate and adaptive responses to inflammation, and the contribution of bronchospasm and tissue remodelling to airway obstruction, all occurring in a natural setting. Similarities with the human asthmatic airways are well described and the model is currently being used to evaluate airway remodelling and its reversibility in ways that are not possible in people for ethical reasons. Tools including antibodies, recombinant proteins or gene arrays, as well as methods for sampling tissues and assessing lung function in the horse are constantly evolving to facilitate the study of this animal model. Research perspectives that can be relevant to asthma include the role of neutrophils in airway inflammation and their response to corticosteroids, systemic response to pulmonary inflammation, and maintaining athletic capacities with early intervention.

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Publication Date: 2011-08-10 PubMed ID: 21824219DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2011.02033.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup

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Heaves, a disease comparable to human asthma, is found in horses and is characterized by stable dust-induced inflammation, bronchospasm, and remodeling of the airways. This disease can be studied over long durations in various stages, offering valuable insight into the cumulative effects of repeated episodes and evaluating long-term treatment strategies. Not only has this study model demonstrated a complex interplay of gene and environment, the response to inflammation, and the contributions of bronchospasm and tissue remodeling to airway obstruction, but it also allows for examination of airway remodeling in ways that would be deemed unethical in human beings.

Disease Model

Heaves is a naturally occurring disease in horses analogous to human asthma, offering a valuable study model that combines various aspects such as airway inflammation, hyper-responsiveness, and remodelling—factors not usually seen together in other animal models.
The controlled exposure and avoidance to natural antigens in experimental settings enable researchers to study the disease mechanisms during both asymptomatic and symptomatic stages, which is generally not feasible in humans.
Unlike most murine (mouse) asthma models that offer limited insights, the heaves model allows for long-term observation to understand the cumulative impacts of repeated episodes or the effectiveness of prolonged treatments.

Findings

The study model has demonstrated the complex interaction between gene and environment and the dual involvement of innate and adaptive responses to inflammation.
It has underscored the contributions of bronchospasm and tissue remodelling to airway obstruction happening in a natural environment.
Due to a high degree of similarities between the heaves disease in horses and human asthma, the model is extensively used to investigate airway remodeling and its reverse—areas typically out of bounds for human subjects on ethical grounds.

Research Tools and Perspectives

The research has benefited from the evolution of tools including antibodies, recombinant proteins, or gene arrays, as well as methods for sampling tissues and assessing lung function in horses.
The future research avenues relevant to asthma could explore the role of neutrophils in airway inflammation, their response to corticosteroids, the systemic response to pulmonary inflammation, and maintaining athletic capacities with early intervention.

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APA

Leclere M, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Lavoie JP. (2011). Heaves, an asthma-like disease of horses. Respirology, 16(7), 1027-1046. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2011.02033.x