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Conference abstract2004Peer reviewed

“Expression of IL-10, IL-8 and IFN-gamma mRNA in the airways of RAO-affected and clinically healthy horses”

Eva Wattrang, Riihimäki Miia, Pringle John

Abstract

Horses in temperate climates are commonly afflicted with an” asthma like disease” called recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), when housed indoors. Airway alterations in asthma have many comparative similarities to the recurrent airway inflammation and obstruction syndrome of the horse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of RT-PCR-techniques on endobronchial biopsy samples for detection of cytokine mRNA in studies on equine airway inflammation. Five horses with RAO and five healthy controls with normal BAL cytology were included in this pilot study. All horses received clinical examination, routine blood sample analysis, airway endoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage and collection of bronchial biopsy samples under endoscopic guidance. RNA from bronchial epithelium and BAL cells obtained from each horse was examined for expression of IL-8, IL-10 and IFN-gamma mRNA using RT-PCR. IFN-gamma was expressed in biopsies in two control horses and in two RAO-affected horses. Two of the RAO-affected horses showed expression of IFN-gamma in BAL, but none of the control horses expressed IFN-gamma in lavage samples. IL-10 and IL-8 was expressed almost in all BAL-samples, but only two horses with RAO and two controls expressed these cytokines in biopsies. Two control horses showed expression all tested cytokines in biopsies and IL-10 and IL-8 in BAL-samples indicating to have an airway inflammation despite the lack of neutrophil response in BAL. These results indicate that cytokine mRNA expression in biopsy samples may be a valuable tool in studies of equine inflammatory airway diseases

Published in

European Respiratory Journal
2004, Volume: 24, Supplement 48, pages: 350
Publisher: European Respiratory Society

Conference

ERS-European Respiratory Society- congress 4-8/9-2004