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Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Malin K, Dąbrowska I, Grzędzicka J, Ostaszewski P, Carter C. Immunology of Physical Exercise: Is Equus caballus an Appropriate Animal Model for Human Athletes? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5210. [PMID: 38791248 PMCID: PMC11121269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Domestic horses routinely participate in vigorous and various athletic activities. This enables the horse to serve as a model for studying athletic physiology and immunology in other species, including humans. For instance, as a model of physical efforts, such as endurance rides (long-distance running/aerobic exercise) and races (anaerobic exercise), the horse can be useful in evaluating post-exercise response. Currently, there has been significant interest in finding biomarkers, which characterize the advancement of training and adaptation to physical exercise in the horse. The parallels in cellular responses to physical exercises, such as changes in receptor expression and blood cell activity, improve our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the body's response to intense physical activity. This study focuses on the changes in levels of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and cellular response in the context of post-exercise immune response. Both the direction of changes in cytokine levels and cellular responses of the body, such as proliferation and expression of surface markers on lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils, show cross-functional similarities. This review reveals that horses are robust research models for studying the immune response to physical exercise in human athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Witkowska-Piłaszewicz
- Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Malin
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Izabela Dąbrowska
- Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jowita Grzędzicka
- Department of Large Animals Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Ostaszewski
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Craig Carter
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA;
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Immune Functions Alterations Due to Racing Stress in Thoroughbred Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091203. [PMID: 35565629 PMCID: PMC9104563 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Racehorses are under constant stress when training and during competitions. It is known that high levels of cortisol, the hormone responsible for stress regulation, can impact the immune system. Hence, the importance of assessing the immune cells, blood components and cortisol during different times of athlete horses’ routines, including races. This research verified the impact of training and racing on the immune function of Thoroughbreds’ trough phagocytosis and oxidative neutrophil burst assays, serum cortisol determination, erythrocytes apoptosis, lymphoproliferation, and blood count analyses. Abstract Racehorses are constantly exposed to stress. Aiming to verify the state of blood components and cortisol alterations during their routine and after races, phagocytosis and oxidative neutrophil burst assays, serum cortisol determination, erythrocytes apoptosis evaluation, lymphoproliferation assays, and blood count tests were performed in thirty Thoroughbred racehorses, which were divided in two groups. The samples were taken right after races (moment 0 d), during rest periods (−11 d, +1 d, +3 d), and after training (−8, +2, +5). In both groups, the phagocytosis showed a decrease in percentage and intensity immediately after the race when comparing samples collected during rest or training periods. In the mean values of oxidative burst on samples collected immediately after the race, group I animals demonstrated a decrease (524.2 ± 248.9) when compared with those samples collected in other moments. No significant differences were found between the results of different moments regarding the apoptotic cells and lymphoproliferation assays. The mean values of serum cortisol levels were increased immediately after racing. There was an increase in the percentage of neutrophils found immediately after the race. It was possible to conclude that, although a transient reduction was found in the number of neutrophils, the horses’ adaptive function was not affected.
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Baakhtari M, Imaizumi N, Kida T, Yanagita T, Ramah A, Ahmadi P, Takebe N, Iwamoto Y, Korosue K, Tsuzuki N, Yasuda M. Effects of branched-chain amino acids on immune status of young racing horses. J Vet Med Sci 2022; 84:558-565. [PMID: 35197413 PMCID: PMC9096041 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
High-intensity exercise and competition are associated with depressed immune function.
Young horses, which participate in high-intensity exercise and competitions, are at
increased risk for the development of infectious disease due to depression of immune
function. The effects of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on the immune
status of young racing horses were evaluated, determining whether BCAA might help to avoid
or reduce immune suppression during exercise and competitions. Twenty horses (10 male and
10 female) were treated with BCAA supplementation; another twenty untreated horses (10
male and 10 female) constituted control group. Peripheral blood was collected from each
animal and evaluated for lymphocyte subsets, phagocytosis analysis of monocytes and
granulocytes, lymphocyte proliferative response, and expression of cytokine-encoding
messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs). The numbers of CD4+, CD8+, and
major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+ cells in females of the
treated group were significantly higher than those in females of the control group. The
lymphocyte proliferative response in female of the treated group also was significantly
higher than that in females of the control group. In addition, expression of mRNAs
encoding interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in females of the treated group
was significantly higher than that in females of the control group. There were no
significant differences between males of the treated and control groups. The results of
this study indicated the positive effects of BCAA supplementation in counteracting
immunosuppression in young female racing horses during and following high-intensity
exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Baakhtari
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki.,Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki.,Faculty of Veterinary Science, Balkh University
| | - Noriko Imaizumi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki
| | - Tetsuo Kida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki
| | - Tenya Yanagita
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki
| | - Amany Ramah
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki.,Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University
| | - Parnian Ahmadi
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki.,Faculty of Veterinary Science, Balkh University
| | - Naoya Takebe
- Japan Racing Association (JRA) and Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm
| | - Yohei Iwamoto
- Japan Racing Association (JRA) and Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm
| | - Kenji Korosue
- Japan Racing Association (JRA) and Miyazaki Yearling Training Farm
| | - Nao Tsuzuki
- Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
| | - Masahiro Yasuda
- Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki.,Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki
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Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Pingwara R, Winnicka A. The Effect of Physical Training on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Ex Vivo Proliferation, Differentiation, Activity, and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Racehorses. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:E1155. [PMID: 33233549 PMCID: PMC7699811 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9111155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical activity has an influence on a variety of processes in an athlete's organism including the immune system. Unfortunately, there is a lack of studies regarding racehorse immune cells, especially when the horse model is compared to human exercise physiology. The aim of the study was to determine changes in immune cell proliferation, lymphocyte populations, and monocyte functionality in trained and untrained racehorses after exercise. In this study, field data were collected. The cells from 28 racehorses (14 untrained and 14 well-trained) were collected before and after exercise (800 m at a speed of about 800 m/min) and cultured for 4 days. The expression of CD4, CD8, FoxP3, CD14, MHCII, and CD5 in PBMC, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as cell proliferation, were evaluated by flow cytometry. In addition, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, INF-γ, and TNF-α concentrations were evaluated by ELISA. The creation of an anti-inflammatory environment in well-trained horses was confirmed. In contrast, a pro-inflammatory reaction occurred in untrained horses after training. In conclusion, an anti-inflammatory state occurs in well-trained racehorses, which is an adaptational reaction to an increased workload during training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Witkowska-Piłaszewicz
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Rafał Pingwara
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Anna Winnicka
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
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Karagianni AE, Summers KM, Couroucé A, Depecker M, McGorum BC, Hume DA, Pirie RS. The Effect of Race Training on the Basal Gene Expression of Alveolar Macrophages Derived From Standardbred Racehorses. J Equine Vet Sci 2019; 75:48-54. [PMID: 31002092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Mild-to-moderate equine asthma is prevalent in young racehorses, particularly early in their training period. Although the precise etiopathogenesis remains undetermined, it is possible that the susceptibility of this population might partly reflect an exercise-associated immune derangement at the level of the airway. We performed a genome-wide basal gene expression scan on alveolar macrophages (AMs) isolated from Standardbred racehorses before and after commencement of competition race training with a view to identifying any exercise-associated gene expression modulation consistent with functional alterations, which might reflect training-associated immunological derangement. Microarray technology was used to analyze the basal gene expression profiles of bronchoalveolar fluid-derived AMs, harvested from six systemically healthy Standardbred racehorses before (T0) and after (T1) entry into training. In addition, AM lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α and IL-10 release at T0 and T1 was assessed. Although the data revealed significant interhorse heterogeneity in relation to the magnitude of individual gene expression at each timepoint, within each horse, several inflammatory-related genes [e.g., chemokine ligands, interferons, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFKB)] declined in expression from T0 to T1. Entry into training did not significantly alter AM LPS-induced TNF-α or IL-10 release. The data support a direct effect of training on AM basal gene expression, particularly with respect to immune-related genes. The pattern of training-associated differential gene expression may indicate relative downregulation of inflammatory-related genes, consistent with an immunosuppressive effect of training and an increased susceptibility to opportunistic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Karagianni
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK.
| | - Kim M Summers
- Mater Research Institute-UQ, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Anne Couroucé
- LUNAM Université, ONIRIS, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation de Nantes-Atlantique, UPSP 5304 Laboratoire de Physiopathologie animale et de Pharmacologie fonctionnelle, Nantes, France
| | - Marianne Depecker
- LUNAM Université, ONIRIS, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation de Nantes-Atlantique, UPSP 5304 Laboratoire de Physiopathologie animale et de Pharmacologie fonctionnelle, Nantes, France
| | - Bruce C McGorum
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - David A Hume
- Mater Research Institute-UQ, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - R Scott Pirie
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
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Reuss SM, Giguère S. Update on Bacterial Pneumonia and Pleuropneumonia in the Adult Horse. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2015; 31:105-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Cywinska A, Szarska E, Degorski A, Guzera M, Gorecka R, Strzelec K, Kowalik S, Schollenberger A, Winnicka A. Blood phagocyte activity after race training sessions in Thoroughbred and Arabian horses. Res Vet Sci 2013; 95:459-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Ainsworth DM, Appleton JA, Eicker SW, Luce R, Julia Flaminio M, Antczak DF. The effect of strenuous exercise on mRNA concentrations of interleukin-12, interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 in equine pulmonary and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2003; 91:61-71. [PMID: 12507851 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-2427(02)00274-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The effect of strenuous exercise on the mRNA concentrations of interleukin-12p35 subunit (IL-12p35), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in equine pulmonary and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was investigated. We hypothesized that strenuous exercise would suppress the expression of IL-12p35, IFN-gamma and augment the expression of IL-4. Eleven horses were randomly divided into two groups, a stall-confined control group (n=5) and an exercise-conditioned treatment group (n=6). Bronchoalveolar and PBMCs were obtained from horses in the treatment group prior to the commencement of a 9-week conditioning program and 24h after the completion of a maximum exercise test conducted in week 12. Samples were obtained simultaneously from control horses. Differential counts were performed on the bronchoalveolar lavage cells. Real-time PCR was performed on the pulmonary and PBMCs to quantitate cytokine expression using equine-specific primers and Taqman probes. Target gene expression was normalized to 18s rRNA expression. With the exception of IL-4 in the BALF cells, mRNA for the three cytokines was detected in the mononuclear cells from all horses at both sampling times. There were no significant differences in the cytokine mRNA concentrations between the two groups of horses at either of the sampling times. These findings demonstrate that strenuous treadmill exercise does not exert a deleterious effect on gene expression for IL-12p35, IFN-gamma or IL-4 when assessed in horses 24h following the intense physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy M Ainsworth
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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