Inflammatory markers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of Standardbred racehorses with inflammatory airway disease: response to interferon‐alpha

Abstract

Summary Protein and eicosanoid concentrations and procoagulant activity were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 32 Standardbred racehorses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD) and 6 control horses. Total protein, albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were high (P<0.05) in the BALF from horses with IAD, a finding consistent with exudation of plasma protein into the airway. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations also were increased (P<0.05) which may signify local immunoglobulin production. Difference was not detected in prostaglandin E2 and 6‐ketoprostaglandin F1α concentrations in BALF of IAD‐affected and control horses. Procoagulant activity was identified in the majority (66%) of BALF samples from IAD‐affected horses and was not detected in control horses. Natural human interferon‐alpha (nHuIFNα) (placebo, 50, 150, or 450 units) was administered orally for 5 days to IAD‐affected horses in a double‐blind, randomised block design. Total protein, IgG, and IgA concentrations in BALF were reduced (P<0.05) 8 days after administration of 50 u and 150 u nHuIFNα, and 15 days after administration of 50 u nHuIFNα. Procoagulant activity and albumin concentrations in BALF were lower 8 days after administration of 50 u nHuIFNα. Oral administration of low‐dose nHuIFNα appeared to ameliorate these parameters of lower respiratory tract inflammation in Standardbred racehorses with IAD.

Cytology profile and age influence in the equine bronchoalveolar lavage in healthy and asymptomatic inflammatory airway disease

“…This type of infiltrate has been described, sometimes together with increased numbers of mast cells and eosinophils (MOORE et al, 1995;BAIN, 1997;VIEL, 1997;LESSA, 2003;LESSA et al, 2005;ROBINSON, 2003). CHRISTLEY & RUSH (2007) characterize IAD as an inflammatory process with a neutrophilic infiltrate, and less commonly with eosinophilic and mast cell infiltrates.…”

Diagnostic Approaches for the Assessment of Equine Chronic Pulmonary Disorders

“…It is commonly reported in young racehorses and decreases in frequency with increasing age [13], but nonracehorses of all ages can have IAD [9,26]. The most commonly encountered BALF cytologic profiles are characterized by increased total nucleated cell count with mild neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, monocytosis [7,9,26], or eosinophilia [27,28]. Although neutrophilic inflammation is commonly observed in BALF from horses both with RAO and IAD, the neutrophilia is usually less pronounced in cases of IAD (ie, <20%).…”

“…Airway obstruction causing typical labored breathing is reversible by controlling dust in the environment or using bronchodilators [6]. A mild form of lower airway inflammatory disease commonly encountered in young athletic horses has been recognized as a separate entity from RAO and is termed inflammatory airway disease (IAD) [7][8][9]. In the majority of cases, RAO and IAD may be differentiated on the basis of clinical grounds; however, some have argued that, over time, horses with IAD may progress into RAO [10,11].…”

Bacteriological and Cytological Findings of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids in Foals with Lower Respiratory Tract Diseases

“…Özellikle kronik solunum sistemi hastalıklarında tercih edilse de gerek bakteriyolojik gerekse sitolojik muayene açısından değerlendirmede önemli bir rolü bulunmaktadır [15,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] . Diğer bir tanı yöntemi olan trakeal aspirasyon tekniği de alt solunum yolları hastalıklarında sıklıkla kullanılan yöntemlerdendir fakat BAL ile karşılaştırıldığında aralarında birçok farklılık bulunmaktadır [34,35] .…”