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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a potential bi...
Equine veterinary journal2023; doi: 10.1111/evj.13939

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a potential biomarker for equine asthma.

Abstract: Studies in people have found neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations are increased in asthma and can be used to distinguish between asthma subtypes. NGAL has not yet been investigated in equine asthma (EA). Objective: To investigate the ability of NGAL concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum to distinguish between control horses, horses with mild-moderate EA (MEA) and horses with severe EA (SEA). Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: Details of endoscopic examination including tracheal mucus score (TMS, scale 0-5) and BAL cytology performed on 227 horses were extracted from records and NGAL concentrations were measured on stored serum and BAL fluid samples. The horses were divided into groups (control group n = 73, MEA n = 98, SEA n = 56) based on clinical signs and BAL cytology results. Differences between groups were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney test and correlation between BAL NGAL, serum NGAL, and BAL cytology were evaluated using Spearman's correlation. Results: BAL NGAL concentrations were higher in EA than in control horses (median: 25.6 and 13.3 μg/L, respectively, p < 0.001). Concentrations of NGAL in BAL differed between groups, with higher concentrations in MEA than in control horses (median: 18.5 and 13.3 μg/L, respectively, p < 0.001), and higher concentrations in SEA than in MEA horses (median: 54.1 and 18.5 μg/L, respectively, p 2 (median 15.6 and 21.1 μg/L, respectively, p = 0.004). No differences were found in serum NGAL concentration between any of the groups. Conclusions: Only 66 of the 227 (29%) horses had haematology and serum NGAL measured. Conclusions: BAL NGAL concentration differed between control and EA and reflected severity of disease. These results justify further research into the potential of NGAL as a biomarker of EA. Unassigned: Estudos em humanos reportam que a concentração de lipocalina associada à gelatinase de neutrófilos (NGAL) aumentam em indivíduos com asma, e que esse biomarcador permite diferenciar entre os diferentes subtipos de asma. NGAL ainda não foi investigada em asma equina. Objective: Investigar a concentração de NGAL em fluído de lavado bronco-alveolar (BAL) e soro de equinos com asma leve a moderada (MEA), equinos com asma severa (SEA), e equinos controle. Unassigned: Estudo transversal retrospectivo. Methods: Exame endoscópico incluindo a escala de muco na traqueia (TMS, escala 0-5) e citologia de BAL de 227 cavalos foram identificados no banco de dados e incluídos neste estudo. A concentração de NGAL foi mensurada no fluido de BAL e no soro desses equinos. Os equinos foram divididos nos seguintes grupos: grupo controle (n = 73), MEA (n = 98) e SEA (n = 56), baseados nos sinais clínicos e citologia do BAL. A diferença entre grupos foi analisada usando o teste de Mann-Whitney e a correlação entre NGAL no BAL, NGAL no soro, e citologia do BAL foram avaliadas usando a correlação Spearman's. Results: A concentração de NGAL no BAL foi maior em equinos com asma comparado com o grupo controle (mediana: 25.6 μg/L e 13.3 μg/L, respectivamente, p > 0.001). A concentração de NGAL no BAL foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos, sendo maior no grupo MEA do que em equinos controle (mediana: 18.5 μg/L e 13.3 μg/L, respectivamente, p < 0.001), e maiores em equinos com SEA comparados com MEA (mediana: 54.1 μg/L e 18.5 μg/L, respectivamente, p  2 (mediana 15.6 e 21.1 μg/L respectivamente, p = 0.004). Nenhuma diferença foi encontrada na concentração de NGAL em soro quando os grupos foram comparados entre si. PRINCIPAL LIMITAÇÃO: Apenas 66 dos 227 (29%) dos cavalos tiveram exames hematológicos e concentração de NGAL mensurada no soro. CONCLUSÃO: A concentração de NGAL no BAL é diferente entre equinos com asma e animais controle, e reflete a severidade da doença. Esses resultados suportam a pesquisa futura de NGAL como um possível biomarcador em asma equina.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-03-28 PubMed ID: 36977608DOI: 10.1111/evj.13939Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research explored the potential use of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a protein often associated with asthma, as a biomarker for diagnosing the severity of equine asthma. From a set of 227 horses, the study found horses with asthma had significantly higher concentrations of NGAL in their bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, a medium for lung sampling, compared to control horses.

Objective and Methods of the Study

  • The study primarily aimed to identify whether NGAL concentrations in BAL fluid and serum could differentiate between healthy horses and those affected by mild to severe equine asthma.
  • Using a retrospective cross-sectional design, endoscopic examinations, including a tracheal mucus score (TMS) and BAL cytology, were performed on a group of 227 horses, which were then divided into control, mild-moderate equine asthma (MEA) and severe equine asthma (SEA) categories.
  • The levels of NGAL were measured in the extracted BAL fluid and serum samples stored from these horses. The data obtained was then statistically analyzed to identify any significant differences or correlations.

Results and Findings

  • The results showed that horses with equine asthma had a notably higher concentration of NGAL in their BAL fluid than healthy horses.
  • Upon comparison between the groups, horses with MEA and SEA had a significantly greater presence of NGAL in their BAL fluid than control horses. Furthermore, horses with SEA had higher NGAL concentrations than those with MEA, indicating that the severity of the disease was positively correlated with the concentration of NGAL.
  • The study also found that horses with a TMS score of >2 had higher BAL NGAL concentrations than those with a TMS score of ≤2.
  • No significant difference was found in serum NGAL concentrations between the different groups.
  • However, it should be noted that only 29% (66 horses) of the total horses had their serum NGAL and haematological examinations measured, presenting a limitation to the findings.

Conclusion and Future Implications

  • The study concluded that the NGAL concentration in BAL could distinguish between healthy horses and those with equine asthma providing a measure of the disease severity.
  • This significant observation suggests that the future study of NGAL as a potential biomarker for equine asthma is justified.

Cite This Article

APA
Hansen S, Otten ND, Spang-Hanssen L, Bendorff C, Jacobsen S. (2023). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a potential biomarker for equine asthma. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13939

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Hansen, Sanni
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taastrup, Denmark.
Otten, Nina D
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Spang-Hanssen, Liv
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taastrup, Denmark.
Bendorff, Christine
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taastrup, Denmark.
Jacobsen, Stine
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taastrup, Denmark.

Grant Funding

  • The Danish Horse Levy Foundation

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