Characterization of equine intestinal fatty acid binding protein and its use in managing horses with colic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the nucleotide sequence of the equine intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) gene, its expression in various regions of the gastrointestinal tract, and the use of measuring I-FABP in horses with colic. Animals-86 horses with colic.


METHODS
The mRNA sequence for the I-FABP gene was obtained by use of a rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends technique. Comparative I-FABP gene expression was quantitated by use of a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. Amounts of I-FABP in abdominal fluid and plasma were measured by use of an ELISA kit. Association between I-FABP concentrations and clinical variables was performed by nonparametric analysis, and associations of these variables with intestinal ischemia were determined by the Spearman correlation test.


RESULTS
The nucleotide sequence had 87% identity with human I-FABP The I-FABP gene was highly expressed in the small intestinal mucosa but had low expression in the colon. High concentrations of I-FABP in abdominal fluid correlated with an increase in protein concentrations in peritoneal fluid and nonsurvival, whereas plasma I-FABP concentrations correlated with the necessity for abdominal surgery. Clinical variables associated with intestinal ischemia included the color and protein content of abdominal fluid and serum creatine kinase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of I-FABP concentrations in abdominal fluid and plasma may be useful for predicting survival and the need for abdominal surgical intervention in horses with colic. Furthermore, serum creatine kinase activity and color and protein concentrations of abdominal fluid may be useful in the diagnosis of intestinal ischemia.
Nieto
Jorge E
JE
Comparative Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Aldridge
Brian M
BM
Beldomenico
Pablo M
PM
Aleman
Monica
M
Snyder
Jack R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D003085:Colic / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D006736:Horses; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D003402:Creatine Kinase