title: Comparison of TGF-beta 1 concentrations in bronchoalveolar fluid of horses affected with heaves and of normal controls.
abstract: Airway remodeling may play an important role in heaves pathophysiology. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent profibrotic cytokine, which might contribute to airway wall thickening and fibrosis of bronchiolar and alveolar submucosa. An ELISA designed for the measurement of human TGF-beta1 was used to measured total TGF-beta1 released in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of normal horses and of those affected with heaves in remission. The specificity of the assay for TGF-beta1 of the horse was confirmed using recombinant equine TGF-beta1. The influence of hay exposure on TGF-beta1 release in the airways was also examined by stabling horses in a dusty environment. TGF-beta1 was found in the BALF of all horses. However, no significant difference between basal concentration of TGF-beta1 in BALF of control horses versus that of horses affected with heaves was found. Furthermore, no differences were identified in these populations 1 and 9 days after allergen challenge. In conclusion, these data indicate that TGF-beta1 is released in BALF fluid of horses in biologically active concentrations. Other studies are necessary for a better definition of the role of this cytokine within the lung, as our study does not establish a causal relationship between TGF-beta1 and the pathophysiology of heaves in the horse.
authors.affiliation: Departement de Sciences Cliniques, Faculte de Medecine Veterinaire, University de Montreal, St. Hyacinthe, Canada J2S 7C6.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Desjardins
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Theoret
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lavoie
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D004391:Dust; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta