title: Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitors in Comparison between Different Chronic Pneumopathies in the Horse.
abstract: In chronic respiratory disease, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to pathological tissue destruction when expressed in excess, while tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) counteract MMPs with overexpression leading to fibrosis formation. They may be out of balance in equine pneumopathies and serve as biomarkers of pulmonary inflammation. We hypothesized that MMPs and TIMPs correlate to clinical findings and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology in different equine chronic pneumopathies. Using a scoring system, 61 horses were classified controls as free of respiratory disease (n = 15), recurrent airway obstruction (RAO, n = 17), inflammatory airway disease (IAD, n = 18), or chronic interstitial pneumopathy (CIP, n = 11). Zymography and equine MMP and TIMP assays were used to detect MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9 as well as TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in BALF supernatant. MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 concentrations were significantly increased in RAO and IAD compared to controls. MMP-9 concentration and MMP-8 activity evaluated by fluorimetry were significantly increased in RAO, IAD, and CIP. These results were confirmed by zymography for MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in 52 horses. In conclusion, MMPs and TIMPs correlate well with clinical and cytologic findings. These findings support the usefulness of MMPs, TIMPs, and their ratios to evaluate the severity of respiratory disease and may help to identify subclinical cases.
authors.affiliation: Equine Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ann Kristin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Equine Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shety
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bondzio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Einspanier
authors.affiliation: Equine Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gehlen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases