Role of the chemokine eotaxin in the pathogenesis of equine sweet itch.
Abstract: The chemokine eotaxin is involved in the recruitment of eosinophils and T helper 2 lymphocytes in human allergic diseases, and drugs that block its activity, including eotaxin receptor (CCR3) antagonists, are being developed. The authors have recently cloned the horse ortholog of eotaxin and shown that it can induce equine eosinophil migration and activation in vitro. Moreover, eotaxin mRNA expression was upregulated in cultured horse dermal fibroblasts exposed to equine interleukin-4, suggesting a possible source of this eosinophil chemoattractant in equine skin. The results of this study show that eotaxin and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) 1, but not MCP-2 or MCP-4, mRNA expression is upregulated in skin biopsies of sweet itch lesions when eosinophils are present, when compared with clinically normal skin from the same ponies.
Publication Date: 2002-12-31 PubMed ID: 12503787
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research explores the role of the chemokine eotaxin in equine sweet itch, an allergic skin disease in horses, suggesting that eotaxin and a protein called MCP-1 may be involved in the skin reactions seen in this illness.
Background of the Research
- This study was conducted based on the understanding that the chemokine eotaxin plays a role in allergic reactions in humans by recruiting white blood cells (eosinophils and T helper 2 lymphocytes) to the site of inflammation.
- The researchers expanded this understanding to horses, specifically investigating the role of eotaxin in equine sweet itch, a common allergic skin condition in these animals. To explore the link, they cloned the horse equivalent of eotaxin for further study.
Key Findings
- The research demonstrated that the horse version of eotaxin could stimulate equine eosinophil migration and activation when tested in a lab setting.
- The expression of eotaxin was found to be upregulated in horse skin cells (dermal fibroblasts) exposed to equine interleukin-4, indicating that this could be a source of eotaxin within the skin of horses.
- The study reveals that not only the amount of eotaxin but also the amount of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) 1 was increased in skin samples from sweet itch lesions when compared to normal skin. Notably, this increase was specifically observed when eosinophils were present.
- The amounts of MCP-2 and MCP-4, which are proteins similar to MCP-1, did not increase, suggesting a unique role for MCP-1 and eotaxin in sweet itch.
Implications of the Study
- These findings hint that drugs to block the activity of eotaxin, including those that antagonize the eotaxin receptor (CCR3), may be beneficial for treating equine sweet itch.
- The distinct role of eotaxin and MCP-1 in the skin inflammatory reactions related to sweet itch provides new insights into the pathogenesis of this allergic disease in horses and could potentially guide new therapeutic approaches.
Cite This Article
APA
Benarafa C, Collins ME, Hamblin AS, Cunningham FM.
(2002).
Role of the chemokine eotaxin in the pathogenesis of equine sweet itch.
Vet Rec, 151(23), 691-693.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biopsy / veterinary
- Case-Control Studies
- Ceratopogonidae / immunology
- Chemokine CCL11
- Chemokine CCL2 / genetics
- Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism
- Chemokine CCL2 / physiology
- Chemokines, CC / antagonists & inhibitors
- Chemokines, CC / genetics
- Chemokines, CC / physiology
- Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / etiology
- Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / immunology
- Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / veterinary
- Eosinophils / physiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses
- Insect Bites and Stings / immunology
- Insect Bites and Stings / veterinary
- Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / genetics
- Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / metabolism
- Monocyte Chemoattractant Proteins / physiology
- Pruritus / immunology
- Pruritus / veterinary
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Receptors, CCR3
- Receptors, Chemokine / antagonists & inhibitors
- Saliva / immunology
- Skin / immunology
- Skin / pathology
- Up-Regulation
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Langreder N, Schäckermann D, Meier D, Becker M, Schubert M, Dübel S, Reinard T, Figge-Wegener S, Roßbach K, Bäumer W, Ladel S, Hust M. Development of an inhibiting antibody against equine interleukin 5 to treat insect bite hypersensitivity of horses. Sci Rep 2023 Mar 10;13(1):4029.
- Martín-Cuervo M, Gracia-Calvo LA, Macías-García B, Ezquerra LJ, Barrera R. Evaluation of Eosinopenia as a SIRS Biomarker in Critically Ill Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 15;12(24).
- Mukai H, Miura Y, Kotani K, Kotoda A, Kurosu H, Yamada T, Kuro-O M, Iwazu Y. The effects for inflammatory responses by CPP with different colloidal properties in hemodialysis patients. Sci Rep 2022 Dec 17;12(1):21856.
- 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.
- Fettelschoss-Gabriel A, Fettelschoss V, Olomski F, Birkmann K, Thoms F, Bühler M, Kummer M, Zeltins A, Kündig TM, Bachmann MF. Active vaccination against interleukin-5 as long-term treatment for insect-bite hypersensitivity in horses. Allergy 2019 Mar;74(3):572-582.
- Foster EL, Simpson EL, Fredrikson LJ, Lee JJ, Lee NA, Fryer AD, Jacoby DB. Eosinophils increase neuron branching in human and murine skin and in vitro. PLoS One 2011;6(7):e22029.
- Jebbawi F, Chemnitzer A, Dietrich M, Pantelyushin S, Lam J, Rhiner T, Keller G, Waldern N, Canonica F, Fettelschoss-Gabriel A. Cytokines and chemokines skin gene expression in correlation with immune cells in blood and severity in equine insect bite hypersensitivity. Front Immunol 2024;15:1414891.
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