Temporal aspects of laminar gene expression during the developmental stages of equine laminitis

The results of recent studies indicate that inflammatory responses occurring in the early stages of equine laminitis lead to downstream events that eventually result in failure of the bond between the hoof wall and the distal phalanx. In order to gain further insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of laminitis, an equine-specific cDNA microarray consisting of transcripts for more that 3000 genes was used to assess temporal changes in gene expression in laminar tissues at 1.5, 3 and 12 h after administration of either a laminitis-inducing agent (black walnut heartwood extract; BWHE) or an equal volume of water (control). As early as 1.5 h after BWHE administration, pro-inflammatory genes associated with leukocyte activation and emigration, including MCP-3/CCL7, MCP-1/CCL2, IP-10/CXCL10 and ICAM-1 were up-regulated. At both 1.5 and 3 h after administration of BWHE, expression of B-cell specific transcripts (e.g., Ig-γ 3, Ig-γ 1 and λ-light chain) were decreased in the laminar tissues. At the onset of Obel grade 1 lameness in horses administered BWHE, other genes involved in inflammatory processes (e.g., serum amyloid A, calgranulin C and NFAT-activation molecule 1), regulation of inflammation (e.g., inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, BiP/GRP78 [Ig binding protein], L-plastin, serpin and nexin-1), antioxidant responses (e.g., superoxide dismutase), matrix turnover (e.g., MMP-9 and TIMP-1), and anti-microbial responses (e.g., serotransferrin, β-defensin-1 and elafin) were up-regulated. These results provide convincing evidence that genes associated with inflammation, activation and extravasation of leukocytes, antimicrobial activities, and destruction of the lamellar basement membrane are induced during the early stages of development of laminitis in response to administration of BWHE.