Training associated alterations in equine respiratory immunity using a multiomics comparative approach.

The research article assesses how training affects the respiratory immune system of racehorses, specifically those diagnosed with mild to moderate equine asthma. Through genomic and proteomic analysis of tracheal wash samples, the study demonstrates changes in genes and proteins associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, immune response, and hematopoietic processes during the training period.

Study Overview and Objectives

• The main focus of this research is to understand how racehorse training impacts the respiratory immune system, especially in cases of horses diagnosed with Mild to Moderate Equine Asthma (MMEA).
• Researchers note a strong link between horses entering a racing program and the onset of MMEA. The objective of this study is to explore this correlation further by analyzing alterations at the genetic and protein level in these horses during their training period.

Data Collection and Analysis

• The researchers collected samples of tracheal wash (TW) from Thoroughbred racehorses, before and after they started their race training.
• These samples underwent multiomics analysis: a method that combines several ‘omics’ studies such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to give a comprehensive biological snapshot.
• A total of 2138 differentially expressed genes and 260 proteins were identified during the training period.

Findings and Interpretations

• The identified genes and proteins were found to be associated with various biological processes, including but not limited to, acute phase response, oxidative stress, haemopoietic processes, and immune response and inflammation.
• The study underscores the value of TW samples as they provide a rich variety of airway cells, proteins, and RNA to study airway immunity in horses. Additionally, it also advocates for the use of a multiomics approach to study complex biological systems like equine airway immunity.
• The observed modifications in genetic and protein expressions potentially reflect the known associations between race training, airway inflammation, and bleeding in racehorses. Therefore, this contributes to a better understanding of the possible mechanisms behind training induced airway inflammation.