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Veterinary immunology and immunopathology2009; 132(2-4); 122-128; doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.05.006

Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 concentrations in normal and septic neonatal foals.

Abstract: Previously it was reported that compared to surviving septic foals, non-surviving foals had a 35-fold increase in interleukin-10 (IL-10) and 15-fold increase in IL-6 gene expression in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). As gene expression profiles can be time-consuming, we sought to determine if serum IL-6 and IL-10 in foals would aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of septicemia. A prospective study of septic neonatal foals admitted to the Cornell University Equine Hospital during 2007 and 2008 was performed. Septicemia was confirmed in 15 foals using blood culture results and sepsis scores. Blood samples for measurement of serum IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were collected at the time of admission (T0) and again 24 (T24) and 48 (T48) hours later. Blood samples from age-matched control foals (n=15) born at the Cornell Equine Park were obtained from foals 12-72h after birth (T0) and again 24 (T24) and 48 (T48) hours later. IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were determined in the serum from dams of septic foals and serum and colostrum from dams of control foals. Serum IL-6 was also measured in healthy foals prior to ingestion of colostrum. Interleukin-6 was detected using an ELISA and IL-10 was detected using a bead-based fluorescent immunoassay. Group differences were detected using a Wilcoxon rank sum test with a Bonferroni correction applied to the p value. There were no significant differences in serum IL-10 concentration between the two groups of foals. Relative to control foals, septic foals had significantly lower serum IL-6 concentrations at all 3 time points. Relative to septic foals, control foals had significantly higher serum IL-6:IL-10 ratios. Serum IL-6 was undetectable in foals prior to ingestion of colostrum. However, colostral IL-6 concentration measured in the control mares was high (> or =215ng/mL) in all samples suggesting passive transfer of maternal IL-6 to the equine neonate. Colostral IL-10 was undetectable in 11/12 samples. Failure of passive transfer may directly influence the serum IL-6 concentration in septic foals. Neither serum IL-6 nor IL-10 alone, were useful diagnostic indices of sepsis in equine neonates. Although the number of animals involved in this study was too small for the identification of a concrete value, the serum IL-6:IL-10 ratio is likely to provide a valuable prognosticator for neonatal septicemia.
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Publication Date: 2009-05-18 PubMed ID: 19501415DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.05.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 study aimed to investigate the potential use of serum concentrations of the proteins interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in diagnosing and predicting the outcomes of septicemia (blood infection) in newborn horses, or foals. However, neither of these measures, when used alone, turned out to be effective indicators of neonatal equine septicemia.

Investigation Context

  • This research follows up on previous reports stating that the blood cells of foals that did not survive sepsis displayed dramatically higher levels of IL-6 and IL-10 gene expression.
  • As blood-cell gene expression profiling can be a slow process, the researchers wanted to see whether checking for IL-6 and IL-10 in serum – the component of blood that remains after clotting – would be of help in identifying and forecasting sepsis in newborn foals.

Research Methods and Findings

  • The study was prospective and conducted using both septic and healthy, control foals admitted to the veterinary facility at Cornell University over a two-year period.
  • Serum IL-6 and IL-10 were tested at admission time and again after 24 and 48 hours using recognized methods such as ELISA and a bead-based fluorescent immunoassay.
  • The researchers also tested the colostrum (the mother’s first milk) and serum from the mothers of both sets of foals, as well as the serum of healthy foals before they consumed colostrum.
  • The results revealed that septic foals had notably lower serum IL-6 concentrations than healthy ones at all three time points. However, there wasn’t a significant difference in IL-10 concentrations between the two groups.
  • Healthy foals had significantly higher serum IL-6:IL-10 ratios relative to the septic foals.

Additional Observations

  • Researchers observed that IL-6 concentration in colostrum of control mares was quite high, suggesting passive transfer of maternal IL-6 to the neonate. The colostrum offered to foals by their mothers did not feature detectable IL-10 levels.
  • The absence of colostrum ingestion may directly cause the low concentration of serum IL-6 in septic foals.
  • Due to the small sample size, a concrete cut-off could not be determined.

Conclusions

  • Despite the outcomes of previous reports, this study found that monitoring serum IL-6 or IL-10 levels alone was not particularly useful in diagnosing sepsis in newborn foals.
  • The ratio of serum IL-6 to IL-10 concentrations, on the other hand, may be a valuable prognosticator for neonatal septicemia.

Cite This Article

APA
Burton AB, Wagner B, Erb HN, Ainsworth DM. (2009). Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 concentrations in normal and septic neonatal foals. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 132(2-4), 122-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.05.006

Publication

Veterinary immunology and immunopathology
ISSN: 1873-2534
NlmUniqueID: 8002006
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 132
Issue: 2-4
Pages: 122-128

Researcher Affiliations

Burton, A B
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Wagner, B
    Erb, H N
      Ainsworth, D M

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Animals, Newborn
        • Case-Control Studies
        • Colostrum / immunology
        • Female
        • Horse Diseases / blood
        • Horse Diseases / immunology
        • Horses / blood
        • Horses / immunology
        • Immunity, Maternally-Acquired
        • Interleukin-10 / blood
        • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
        • Interleukin-6 / blood
        • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
        • Male
        • Pregnancy
        • Prognosis
        • Prospective Studies
        • Sepsis / blood
        • Sepsis / immunology
        • Sepsis / veterinary

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