title: Plasma HMGB-1 and Nucleosome Concentrations in Horses with Colic and Healthy Horses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute gastrointestinal disease occurs commonly in horses. Novel biomarkers might improve the understanding of SIRS and aid diagnosis and determination of prognosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Increased plasma concentrations of the biomarkers HMGB-1 and nucleosomes are associated with severity of gastrointestinal lesions in horses; concentrations of these biomarkers will be greater in horses with lesions more likely to cause SIRS; and will provide additional information compared with standard biomarkers fibrinogen and SAA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty horses with gastrointestinal disease, 22 healthy horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study. Plasma samples taken on admission were used for measurement of HMGB-1, nucleosomes, fibrinogen, and SAA. Values were compared between healthy horses and those with gastrointestinal disease, and between horses with gastrointestinal disease grouped by lesion type (inflammatory, strangulating, and nonstrangulating). Correlations between biomarkers were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma concentrations of all biomarkers were significantly higher in horses with gastrointestinal disease compared to healthy horses (P ≤ .001). HMGB-1 and nucleosomes were significantly higher in inflammatory and strangulating groups compared to healthy horses (3.5-fold and 5.4-fold increases, respectively, for HMGB-1 (P < .05) and 4.8-fold and 5.6-fold increases for nucleosomes (P < .05)), but concentrations in the group with nonstrangulating disease did not differ from healthy horses. There was significant correlation between HMGB-1 and nucleosomes (Spearman's r = 0.623; P < .001), and fibrinogen and SAA (Spearman's r = 0.801; P < .001) but not between other biomarkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High mobility group box-1 and nucleosomes might have use as biomarkers for horses with gastrointestinal disease. Further studies are required to determine kinetics and prognostic value of serial measurements of these biomarkers in horses.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bauquier
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tudor
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D003085:Colic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; D009707:Nucleosomes
keywords: HMGB-1; Horse; Nucleosomes; Systemic inflammatory response syndrome