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Special Issue "Immune Response in the Horse"

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2022) | Viewed by 8018

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jessica Suagee Bedore

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Interests: immunology; horse; equine management

Dr. Caroline Leeth

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Interests: immunology; lymphocyte biology; mouse models; horse; equine protozoal myeloencephalitis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This issue will focus on the immune response of the horse in health and disease states. Novel insights into immune function and immune assessment will be included. The unique equine immune response is not well characterized and often extrapolations are made from human or mouse studies. Frequent reminders are published on the differences between mice and humans so our knowledge of the equine specific response is critical to understand their immunological challenges as well as for new therapeutic development. The purpose of this issue to contribute to our expanding knowledge base of the immunological responses of the horse.

Dr. Jessica Suagee Bedore
Dr. Caroline Leeth
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

horse
immunology
inflammation
health

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Effects of Crude Rice Bran Oil and a Flaxseed Oil Blend in Young Horses Engaged in a Training Program

Kayla C. Mowry

Timber L. Thomson-Parker

Cruz Morales

Kalley K. Fikes

Kyle J. Stutts

Jessica L. Leatherwood

Mark J. Anderson

Rachelle X. Smith

and

Jessica K. Suagee-Bedore

Animals 2022, 12(21), 3006; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213006 - 02 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1238

Abstract

Rice bran oil and flaxseed oil contain omega-3 fatty acids with the potential to reduce post-exercise inflammation and muscle damage. This study measures plasma interleukin-1β and creatine kinase and fatty acid profiles in lightly worked, young horses (Equus caballus) undergoing an exercise test after 60 days (d) of oil consumption, where the oil replaced 25% of concentrate calories. Treatments consisted of CON (no oil), FLAX (flaxseed oil blend), and RICE (crude rice bran oil). Blood was collected pre-exercise, and again at 1 min, 30 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post-IET. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Plasma creatine kinase activity was not different in CON during the study, greater (p < 0.05) in RICE from pre-exercise to 30 min post-exercise across all exercise tests, and lesser (p < 0.05) in FLAX at 30 min post-exercise on d 30 compared to d 0. Plasma interleukin-1β was greater (p < 0.01) in CON on d 60, but no differences were observed in FLAX and RICE throughout the study. Plasma alpha-linolenic and linoleic acids were greatest (p < 0.05) in FLAX after 30 d of inclusion, while CON horses had greater (p < 0.05) EPA across all exercise tests and DHA after 60 d. These results indicate that 60 d of inclusion of crude rice bran oil or a flaxseed oil blend may benefit lightly worked, young horses by reducing training-program-related increases in interleukin-1β, while a flaxseed oil blend may reduce exercise-induced increases in creatine kinase. Additionally, the flaxseed oil blend has the potential to increase plasma omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Replacing 25% of concentrate calories with flaxseed or rice bran oil has potential benefits for young horses in training. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response in the Horse)

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Open AccessArticle

Age and Body Condition Influence the Post-Prandial Interleukin-1β Response to a High-Starch Meal in Horses

Jessica Suagee-Bedore

and

Animals 2021, 11(12), 3362; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123362 - 24 Nov 2021

Viewed by 960

Abstract

Older horses and those prone to obesity may be at a higher risk for inflammation than younger and leaner counterparts. Previous research indicated a postprandial elevation in plasma concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, after consuming 1.2 g of non-structural carbohydrates/kilogram of body weight. However, these studies utilized horses of mixed age and body condition. The current study evaluated post-prandial IL-1β concentrations in horses specifically comparing lean to over-conditioned and middle aged to older. Our results suggest that at least two weeks of daily consumption of a high non-structural carbohydrate diet is required to induce a post-prandial increase in IL-1β concentrations in younger and leaner horses. In opposition to this, older and over-conditioned horses experience plasma increased on the first day of feeding and thereafter. Feeding management practices of older and over-conditioned individuals should emphasize lower non-structural carbohydrate intakes and further research should elucidate mechanisms of IL-1β activation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response in the Horse)

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Open AccessArticle

Engrafting Horse Immune Cells into Mouse Hosts for the Study of the Acute Equine Immune Responses

and

Animals 2021, 11(10), 2962; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102962 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1312

Abstract

Immunological studies in the horse are frequently hampered by lack of environmental control, complicated study design, and ethical concerns when performing high risk studies. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the utility of a xenograft model for studying acute equine immune responses. Immunocompromised non obese diabetic (NOD). sudden combined immunodeficiency (scid).gamma-/- (NSG) mice were engrafted with either equine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) or equine bone marrow to determine an optimal protocol for equine lymphocyte engraftment. We found that both PBL and bone marrow grafts populated the host mice successfully. Bone marrow transplants were technically more challenging and required further processing to retard graft versus host disease. Graft vs host disease was apparent at 28 days post-PBL transfer and 56 days post-bone marrow transfer. The results of these studies support the use of mouse hosts to study acute equine immune responses and that different engraftment techniques can be used depending on the experimental design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response in the Horse)

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Open AccessArticle

High Numbers of CD163-Positive Macrophages in the Fibrotic Region of Exuberant Granulation Tissue in Horses

Charis Du Cheyne

Ann Martens

and

Ward De Spiegelaere

Animals 2021, 11(9), 2728; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092728 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1844

Abstract

Exuberant granulation tissue (EGT) is a frequently encountered complication during second intention healing in equine distal limb wounds. Although it is still unknown what exactly triggers the formation of this tissue, previous research has revealed a persistent inflammatory response in these wounds. In this preliminary study we examined this inflammatory response in EGT-developing wounds as well as in experimental induced wounds. Immunohistological stainings were performed to detect primary inflammatory immune cells (MAC387 staining) as well as pro-resolution immune cells (CD163 staining). Our results show a significantly higher amount of MAC387+ and CD163+ cells in the fibrotic regions of EGT compared with the 19-day-old experimental wounds. This persistent high amount of fibrosis-promoting CD163+ cells in EGT suggests that the wound healing processes in EGT-developing wounds are arrested at the level of the proliferation phase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response in the Horse)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Role of Innate Immunity in Initiation and Progression of Osteoarthritis, with Emphasis on Horses

Juan Estrada McDermott

and

Animals 2021, 11(11), 3247; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113247 - 13 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition with diverse etiologies, affecting horses, humans, and companion animals. Importantly, OA is not a single disease, but rather a disease process initiated by different events, including acute trauma, irregular or repetitive overload of articular structures, and spontaneous development with aging. Our understanding of the pathogenesis of OA is still evolving, and OA is increasingly considered a multifactorial disease in which the innate immune system plays a key role in regulating and perpetuating low-grade inflammation, resulting in sustained cartilage injury and destruction. Macrophages within the synovium and synovial fluid are considered the key regulators of immune processes in OA and are capable of both stimulating and suppressing joint inflammation, by responding to local and systemic cues. The purpose of this review is to examine the role of the innate immune system in the overall pathogenesis of OA, drawing on insights from studies in humans, animal models of OA, and from clinical and research studies in horses. This review also discusses the various therapeutic immune modulatory options currently available for managing OA and their mechanisms of action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response in the Horse)

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