Search

The aim of this work was to assess the effect of different stabilizing agents, for example, polyethylenimine (PEI) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their influence on equine platelet activation and release of particular growth factors. The gold nanoparticles were produced by chemical reduction of chloroauric acid. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the presence of gold nanoparticles in investigated solutions. The AuNPs were incubated with whole blood at various concentrations. The morphology of platelets in PRP prepared from the blood incubated with AuNPs was characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy, whereas the concentrations of growth factors and cytokines were evaluated by ELISA assays. The most promising results were obtained with equine platelets incubated with 5% AuNPs stabilized by PEI, which lead to secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) and simultaneously cause decrease in concentration of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α). The qRT-PCR confirmed ELISA test results. The incubation with 5% AuNPs stabilized by PEI leads to upregulation of BMP-2 and VEGF transcripts of mRNA level and to downregulating expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Obtained data shed a promising light on gold nanoparticle application for future regenerative medicine application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the chosen polymorphisms of the COL9A2, AOAH and FRZB genes and find their potential effect on the occurrence of osteochondrosis in Polish sport horses population. During two successive years, all 198 performance tested horses were checked for osteochondrosis. The health status of the horses was assessed based on 10 x-ray images of three joints: fetlock, hock and stifle, and scored on a 0-3 scale. The methodology of analysis of selected candidate genes using the PCR-RFLP technique was developed. The analysis of variance was performed to evaluate significance of the effect of the COL9A2, AOAH and FRZB genotype on the occurrence of osteochondrosis in individual joints. Fixed effects of breed, gender and training centre were taken into account in the analysis. The results showed a significant influence (P≤0.05) of the COL9A2 genotypes on the occurrence of osteochondrosis in fetlock and hock joints. Polymorphism of this gene, even not proved a causal mutation, appears to have effect on symptoms of the disease. In genes AOAH and FRZB there was no significant effect for investigated SNPs. Further analysis of the discussed genes/polymorphisms seems to be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of gold nanoparticles (AuNPS) on equine platelet morphology, ultrastructure as well as secretion of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), gelsolin (GSN), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The gold nanoparticles, with an average diameter of 20 nm, were incubated with whole anticoagulated blood at 1%, 5%, and 10% w/v for 24 hours. We showed that the application of gold nanoparticles at all the tested concentrations led to platelet activation; however, 5% of AuNPS resulted in the secretion of elevated levels of GSN and VEGF, while the concentration of TNF-α was the lowest. The data indicate that this method may be considered a promising tool for improving the currently used in clinical practice commercially available autologous conditioned serum (ACS) isolation systems for the treatment of equine osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Acute phase proteins (APP) have been described as useful for assessing health in human and animal patients, as they closely reflect the acute phase reaction (APR). In humans and dogs a reaction analogous to APR has also been described after prolonged or strenuous exercise. The aim of this study was to determine, if similar reactions occur in endurance horses after limited and long distance rides. Seventeen horses that successfully completed various distance competitions were tested. Routine haematological and biochemical tests were performed and the concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin were measured. Typical endurance exercise-induced haematological and biochemical changes were observed in all horses, regardless the distance. After long distance rides, the level of SAA markedly increased, but CRP and haptoglobin concentrations remained unchanged. After limited distance rides no changes in the levels of APPs were noted. Exercise-induced APR in horses occurred only after prolonged, strenuous exertion, and differed from APR in inflammation in that only SAA concentration was increased. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]