Abstract: Lipids have become an important target for searching new biomarkers typical of different autoimmune and allergic diseases. The most common allergic dermatitis of the horse is related to stings of insects and is known as insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) or summer eczema, referring to its recurrence during the summer months. This intense pruritus has certain similarities with atopic dermatitis of humans. The treatment of IBH is difficult and therefore new strategies for therapy are needed. Autoserum therapy based on the use of serum phospholipids has recently been introduced for horses. So far, serum lipids relating to these allergic disorders have been poorly determined. The main aim of this study was to analyse phospholipid profiles in the sera of horses with allergic dermatitis and in their healthy controls and to further assess whether these lipid profiles change according to the clinical status after therapy. Methods: Sera were collected from 10 horses with allergic dermatitis and from 10 matched healthy controls both before and 4 weeks after the therapy of the affected horses. Eczema horses were treated with an autogenous preparation made from a horse's own serum and used for oral medication. Samples were analysed for their phospholipid content by liquid chromatography coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-MS). Data of phospholipid concentrations between the groups and over the time were analysed by using the Friedman test. Correlations between the change of concentrations and the clinical status were assessed by Spearman's rank correlation test. Results: The major phospholipid classes detected were phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Eczema horses had significantly lower total concentrations of PC (p < 0.0001) and SM (p = 0.0115) than their healthy controls. After a 4-week therapy, no significant differences were found between the groups. Changes in SM concentrations correlated significantly with alterations in clinical signs (p = 0.0047). Conclusions: Horses with allergic dermatitis have an altered phospholipid profile in their sera as compared with healthy horses and these profiles seem to change according to their clinical status. Sphingomyelin seems to have an active role in the course of equine insect bite hypersensitivity.
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The study examines phospholipid profiles in horse serum, focusing on those with allergic dermatitis, or insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH). The key finding is that horses with IBH have a significantly different phospholipid profile than their healthy counterparts, suggesting that particular phospholipids may play an active role in this condition.
Objective of the Research
The main aim of the research was to investigate the phospholipid profiles in horse sera, particularly for horses diagnosed with allergic dermatitis (IBH) or summer eczema. The study also aimed to find out if these phospholipid profiles exhibited any change post-therapy, and therefore could potentially serve as markers for assessment of clinical status.
Methods Used in the Study
Ten horses with allergic dermatitis and ten healthy control horses were included in this study. Sera samples were collected before and 4 weeks after the eczema-afflicted horses underwent therapy.
The therapy included treatment with an autogenous preparation created from the horse’s own serum.
The collected serum samples were analyzed for phospholipid content using a liquid chromatography-triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-MS).
The data was statistically processed using the Friedman test for comparing phospholipid concentrations, and Spearman’s rank correlation test for evaluating the correlation between concentration changes and clinical status.
Findings of the Research
The major phospholipids classes detected were phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE).
The researchers found that horses with eczema had notably lower concentrations of PC and SM compared to healthy horses.
After a 4-week therapy, there were no significant differences found in the phospholipid concentrations between the two groups of horses.
Significant correlations were observed between the changes in SM concentrations and changes in clinical signs of the disease.
Conclusion of the Research
The study concluded that horses with IBH exhibit distinct phospholipid profiles in their sera when compared to healthy horses. Specific phospholipids, like SM, demonstrated a significant role in the course of the horses’ hypersensitivity to insect bites. Additionally, after therapy, these phospholipid profiles appeared to normalize, potentially serving as a measure of therapeutic effectiveness.
Cite This Article
APA
Hallamaa R, Batchu K.
(2016).
Phospholipid analysis in sera of horses with allergic dermatitis and in matched healthy controls.
Lipids Health Dis, 15, 45.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12944-016-0209-4
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