Age-related dynamics of pro-inflammatory cytokines in equine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood from horses managed on pasture

Sanni Hansen*, Nina D. Otten, Julie Fjeldborg, Keith E. Baptiste, David W. Horohov

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the natural age-related variation and compare the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood and lower airways of horses. The mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 TNF-α TLR-4 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and differential cell count cytology from 44 horses of different ages. A significant age-related increase was found for the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, TLR-4 and TNF-α in stimulated BAL cells and for TNF-α in stimulated PBMC. Furthermore, a significant decrease was found in the mRNA expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in stimulated BAL cells compared to stimulated PBMC. In conclusion, continued low antigen exposure of horses in the pasture environment could lead to a tight regulation of mRNA gene expression in the airway space compared to the peripheral blood and favour an age-related accumulation of mRNA genes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number110634
JournalExperimental Gerontology
Volume124
ISSN0531-5565
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • BAL
  • Cytokine
  • Equine
  • Immunosenescence
  • Inflamm-aging

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