Chronic exacerbation of equine heaves is associated with an increased expression of interleukin-17 mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage cells.
Recent finding suggests that T-cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of heaves in horses. However, little is known concerning their possible contribution to pulmonary neutrophilia, a characteristic finding in heaves. Interleukin (IL)-17 is a cytokine secreted by activated T-cells that indirectly promotes the maturation, chemotaxis and activation of neutrophils. We therefore hypothesized that IL-17 may be involved in the recruitment of neutrophils into the airways and that its mRNA expression would be increased in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells of horses with heaves. Heaves susceptible horses (n=4) and control horses (n=4) when in pasture (clinical remission) and after 35 days of continuous exposure to moldy hay were studied. BAL and respiratory mechanics measurements were performed at both time periods. The mRNA expression of IL-17 in BAL was studied using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and CD3-zeta was used as a marker of T-cell numbers. There was no significant difference in IL-17 mRNA expression between groups of horses while in pasture. However, stabling resulted in an increased expression of IL-17 in all horses with heaves but in none of the control horses. These preliminary results suggest that IL-17 may contribute in the pathogenesis of horses with heaves following chronic antigen challenge.
Debrue
Marie
M
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, 3200 Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., Canada J2S7C6.
Hamilton
Emma
E
Joubert
Philippe
P
Lajoie-Kadoch
Stéphane
S
Lavoie
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000662:veterinary; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006736:Horses; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D020381:Interleukin-17; D012333:RNA, Messenger