title: Cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from horses with neutrophilic inflammatory airway disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple cytological patterns occur in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of horses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Only few data on BALF cytokine profiles are available for horses with IAD, and are limited to mRNA expression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Cytological profiles of IAD are associated with different BALF immunological pathways. To investigate BALF cytokine concentrations in a large number of horses with neutrophilic IAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-eight client-owned Standardbred racehorses in active training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study. BALF samples were obtained from left and right lungs. Interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen horses had normal BALF cytological profiles and 56 exhibited evidence of bilateral neutrophilic IAD. Twenty-four horses showed BALF with, respectively, IAD- and CTL consistent cytology and were excluded; as were 44 horses because of evidence of pulmonary hemorrhage. TNF-α (56 ± 115 pg/mL; P = .034) and IFN-γ concentrations (104 ± 247 pg/mL; P = .044) were significantly higher for IAD horses, compared with controls (respectively 19 ± 41 and 80 ± 116 pg/mL). Horses with 'neutrophil' subtype had significantly higher IFN-γ concentrations (110 ± 154 pg/mL), than 'neutrophil/metachromatic' (56 ± 54 pg/mL; P = .028) and 'neutrophil/metachromatic/eosinophil' subtypes (44 ± 23 pg/mL; P = .012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytokine concentrations in BALF suggested that neutrophilic IAD is associated with activation of the innate immune system and a possible T-helper (Th)-1 polarized response. This study also suggested that immunological pathways vary according to cytological IAD subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Normandie Université, UNICAEN, SF 4206 ICORE/LABÉO Frank Duncombe, 14053, Caen Cedex 4, France.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Depecker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Defontis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leleu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: P-H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pitel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Couroucé-Malblanc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006736:Horses; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Airway inflammation; ELISA; Equine; Th1/Th2