Inflammatory and redox status of ponies with a history of pasture-associated laminitis.
Authors: Treiber, Carter, Gay, Williams, Geor
Journal: Veterinary immunology and immunopathology
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Inflammatory markers and pasture-associated laminitis in ponies Elevated circulating tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) distinguishes ponies with a history of recurrent pasture-associated laminitis from clinically unaffected animals, according to research comparing 42 laminitis-prone (PL) and 34 never-laminitic (NL) ponies under identical management. Despite measuring multiple biomarkers of oxidative stress (glutathione, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, 3-nitrotyrosine) and general inflammatory status (fibrinogen), researchers found no significant differences between groups in these parameters; TNF-α was the sole circulating inflammatory cytokine that differed statistically between PL and NL animals (P < 0.001). This selective elevation of TNF-α in laminitis-prone ponies suggests a specific pro-inflammatory phenotype that may both contribute to and reflect underlying insulin resistance, mirroring mechanisms observed in human metabolic syndrome. For practitioners managing high-risk animals—particularly overweight or insulin-dysregulated individuals—these findings underscore the potential role of systemic inflammation in laminar tissue vulnerability, though the relationship between TNF-α as a causal factor versus a marker of metabolic derangement remains to be clarified through future intervention studies.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Elevated TNF-alpha may be a useful biomarker to identify ponies at higher risk for recurrent laminitis, potentially supporting early intervention strategies
- •The association between TNF-alpha and insulin resistance suggests metabolic management targeting inflammation could help prevent laminitis in susceptible ponies
- •Standard inflammatory markers like fibrinogen may not adequately reflect laminitis risk; more specific cytokine testing may be warranted for at-risk populations
Key Findings
- •Ponies with history of laminitis had significantly higher circulating TNF-alpha concentrations (P < 0.001) compared to non-laminitic ponies
- •No differences in antioxidant markers (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) between laminitis-prone and non-laminitic ponies
- •No differences in oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, apoptosis, 3-nitrotyrosine) between the two groups
- •Fibrinogen concentration and general inflammatory status were not different between laminitis-prone and non-laminitic ponies (P = 0.84)