The equine asthma model of airway remodeling: from a veterinary to a human perspective.
Abstract: Human asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disorder characterized by chronic inflammation, bronchospasm and airway remodeling. The latter is a major determinant of the structure-function relationship of the respiratory system and likely contributes to the progressive and accelerated decline in lung function observed in patients over time. Corticosteroids are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. While their action on inflammation and lung function is well characterized, their effect on remodeling remains largely unknown. An important hindrance to the study of airway remodeling as a major focus in asthma research is the lack of reliable non-invasive biomarkers. In consequence, the physiologic and clinical consequences of airway wall thickening and altered composition are not well understood. In this perspective, equine asthma provides a unique and ethical (non-terminal) preclinical model for hypothesis testing and generation. Severe equine asthma is a spontaneous disease affecting adult horses characterized by recurrent and reversible episodes of disease exacerbations. It is associated with bronchoalveolar neutrophilic inflammation, bronchospasm, and excessive mucus secretion. Severe equine asthma is also characterized by bronchial remodeling, which is only partially improved by prolonged period of disease remission induced by therapy or antigen avoidance strategies. This review will focus on the similarities and differences of airway remodeling in equine and human asthma, on the strengths and limitations of the equine model, and on the challenges the model has to face to keep up with human asthma research.
Publication Date: 2019-11-12 PubMed ID: 31713728DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03117-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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This study examines the potential role of severe equine asthma as a model to better understand the airway remodeling characteristic of human asthma. The research aims to identify parallels and differences between equine and human asthma and investigates the strengths and limitations of this approach in advancing human asthma research.
Understanding Airway Remodeling in Asthma
- The authors identify that human asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation, bronchospasm (constriction of the airways), and a process called airway remodeling – where the structure of the respiratory system undergoes permanent changes. Such remodeling contributes to the decline in lung function observed in asthmatic individuals.
- Despite corticosteroids being the primary treatment, their effects on this remodeling process are largely unknown, primarily because there’s a lack of non-invasive biomarkers that could accurately track this process.
The Role of Equine Asthma as a Model
- The study suggests that severe equine asthma, a spontaneous disease affecting adult horses, could provide an ethical, non-terminal preclinical model for hypothesis testing. This disease also comprises inflammation, bronchospasm and excessive mucus secretion, akin to human asthma.
- The unique perspective of this research lies in its focus on bronchial remodeling in severe equine asthma. Such remodeling partially improves with time and therapy, providing an observation point for the study of remodeling.
Similarities and Differences in Human and Equine Asthma
- The crux of this research is to delineate the similarities and disparities between human and equine asthma, particularly in the context of airway remodeling. This will help in comprehending the effectiveness of the equine model in human asthma research.
Strengths and Limitations of the Equine Model
- The authors aim to objectively evaluate the strengths and limitations of the equine model. This is essential to shape the research methodologies and to establish the model’s reliability in investigating human asthma.
Challenges Faced by the Equine Model
- The paper also identifies the challenges the equine model may face in contributing to human asthma research. Recognizing these challenges can help ensure that adaptations are made to the research model, further enhancing its relevance and validity.
Cite This Article
APA
Bullone M, Lavoie JP.
(2019).
The equine asthma model of airway remodeling: from a veterinary to a human perspective.
Cell Tissue Res, 380(2), 223-236.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-019-03117-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Università degli Studi di Torino, Grugliasco, Italy.
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Montreal, 3200 rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada. jean-pierre.lavoie@umontreal.ca.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Asthma / physiopathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Humans
- Veterinary Medicine / methods
Citations
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