Serum concentration of surfactant protein D in horses with lower airway inflammation.
Abstract: Surfactant protein D (SP-D), mainly synthesised by alveolar type II cells and nonciliated bronchiolar cells, is one important component of innate pulmonary immunity. In man, circulating concentrations of SP-D are routinely used as biomarkers for pulmonary injury. To date, serum SP-D levels have only been investigated in horses in an experimental model of bacterial airway infection. Objective: To compare serum SP-D concentrations at rest and after exercise in horses with and without inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from 42 Standardbred racehorses at rest and 60 min after performing a standardised treadmill exercise test. Tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected after exercise. Based on BALF cytology, 22 horses were defined as IAD-affected and 20 classified as controls. Serum SP-D concentrations were assessed using a commercially available ELISA kit and statistically compared between groups of horses and sampling times. Results: Serum concentrations of SP-D in IAD-affected horses were significantly higher than those of control horses, both at rest and after exercise. Within the IAD-affected group, no significant correlation was found between serum SP-D concentrations and BALF cytology. Within each group of horses (IAD and control), no significant influence of exercise was found on serum SP-D levels. Conclusions: This is the first study determining serum SP-D concentrations in a noninfectious, naturally occurring form of lower airway inflammation in horses. The results highlight that IAD is associated with a detectable, though moderate, increase of circulating SP-D levels. Conclusions: Serum concentration of surfactant protein D could represent a potentially valuable and readily accessible blood biomarker of equine lower airway inflammation.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-06-23 PubMed ID: 21696440DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00421.xGoogle 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 examines the levels of a lung-produced protein (surfactant protein D, or SP-D) in horses, and proposes it as a potential biomarker for diagnosing inflammatory airway disease (IAD) in these animals.
Thorough Explanation of the Research
Objective and Methods of the Study
- The purpose of this study was to compare the concentrations of surfactant protein D (SP-D) in the blood of horses with and without inflammatory airway disease (IAD), both at rest and following exercise.
- SP-D is a protein produced in the lungs, specifically by alveolar type II cells and nonciliated bronchiolar cells. It plays a crucial role in innate pulmonary immunity. In humans, levels of SP-D in the blood are often used as biomarkers for lung damage.
- The study focused on 42 Standardbred racehorses, from whom blood samples were taken at rest and 60 minutes after they performed a standardized treadmill exercise. Samples of tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were also collected post-exercise.
- Based on BALF cytology, 22 horses were identified as having IAD, with the remaining 20 serving as the control group. Concentrations of SP-D in the blood were measured using a special test (ELISA) and the results compared between the groups and the two sampling times.
Findings of the Research
- The results revealed that horses affected by IAD had significantly higher levels of SP-D in their blood compared to the control group, both at rest and after exercise.
- No significant correlation was found between the concentrations of SP-D and BALF cytology within the IAD group. This indicates that the level of SP-D in the blood does not necessarily reflect the extent or type of inflammation in the lung tissue.
- Despite this, no significant impact of exercise on serum SP-D levels was found within either group of horses, suggesting that the increased SP-D levels in IAD horses were not simply due to physical activity.
Conclusions and Implications
- This research is significant as it’s the first of its kind to measure SP-D levels in horses with a noninfectious form of lower airway inflammation that occurs naturally. The findings show that IAD is associated with a moderate rise in circulating SP-D levels, suggesting potential use of this protein as a biomarker for IAD.
- The study proposes that serum concentration of SP-D could be a valuable and easily accessible blood biomarker for equine lower airway inflammation.
Cite This Article
APA
Richard EA, Pitel PH, Christmann U, Lekeux P, Fortier G, Pronost S.
(2011).
Serum concentration of surfactant protein D in horses with lower airway inflammation.
Equine Vet J, 44(3), 277-281.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00421.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Frank Duncombe Laboratory, Route de Rosel, Caen Cedex, France. eric.richard@calvados.fr
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Case-Control Studies
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses
- Inflammation / blood
- Inflammation / metabolism
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Male
- Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / blood
- Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / metabolism
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / blood
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / metabolism
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Herteman N, Mosing M, Waldmann AD, Gerber V, Schoster A. Exercise-induced airflow changes in horses with asthma measured by electrical impedance tomography. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2500-2510.
- Bocking T, Singh B. Light and electron-microscopic localization of CD9 and surfactant protein A and D in normal lungs of the horse. Can J Vet Res 2021 Jul;85(3):170-176.
- Couetil L, Cardwell JM, Leguillette R, Mazan M, Richard E, Bienzle D, Bullone M, Gerber V, Ivester K, Lavoie JP, Martin J, Moran G, Niedźwiedź A, Pusterla N, Swiderski C. Equine Asthma: Current Understanding and Future Directions. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:450.
- Gy C, Leclere M, Vargas A, Grimes C, Lavoie JP. Investigation of blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of mild to moderate asthma in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jul;33(4):1789-1795.
- Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
- Bullone M, de Lagarde M, Vargas A, Lavoie JP. Serum Surfactant Protein D and Haptoglobin as Potential Biomarkers for Inflammatory Airway Disease in Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):1707-11.
- Leclere M, Lavoie-Lamoureux A, Lavoie JP. Acute phase proteins in racehorses with inflammatory airway disease. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):940-5.
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
