Abstract
Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity, which is a key regulator of inflammatory gene expression, is increased in bronchial epithelial cells from horses suffering from heaves (a hypersensitivity-associated inflammatory condition of the lung). To determine whether this increased activity extends to distal airways and to other pulmonary cells, cells recovered by broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) in healthy and heaves-affected horses were assessed for NF-kappaB activity. NF-kappaB activity was much higher in BAL cells from heaves-affected horses, especially during crisis (disease exacerbation), than in cells from healthy horses. Moreover, the level of NF-kappaB activity found in BAL cells was positively correlated to total lung resistance and to the proportion of neutrophils present in BAL fluid. Finally, prototypical p65-p50 NF-kappaB heterodimers were absent from BAL cells, which mostly contained p65 homodimers. These results (1) show that increased NF-kappaB activity is a general feature of heaves lung; (2) demonstrate the importance of p65 homodimers in neutrophilic inflammation; and (3) suggest that the use of specific NF-kappaB inhibitors could improve lung function in heaves-affected horses.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 315-326 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Veterinary immunology and immunopathology |
Volume | 80 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 10 Aug 2001 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry
- DNA Probes/genetics
- Dimerization
- Horse Diseases/immunology
- Horses
- Hypersensitivity/immunology
- Inflammation/immunology
- NF-kappa B/chemistry
- Neutrophils/pathology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases/immunology
- Transcription Factor RelA