RNA sequencing of the exercise transcriptome in equine athletes.
Authors: Capomaccio Stefano, Vitulo Nicola, Verini-Supplizi Andrea, Barcaccia Gianni, Albiero Alessandro, D'Angelo Michela, Campagna Davide, Valle Giorgio, Felicetti Michela, Silvestrelli Maurizio, Cappelli Katia
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: RNA Sequencing of the Exercise Transcriptome in Equine Athletes Using next-generation sequencing technology (SOLiD RNA-seq), Capomaccio and colleagues characterised the transcriptional changes occurring in equine athletes during endurance competition, comparing gene expression profiles in blood samples collected at rest versus immediately post-race. Beyond the expected upregulation of stress-response pathways (inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptors, and kinase signalling), the researchers identified a striking shift toward expression of non-coding genomic regions, particularly transposable elements (L1 and L2 repeats) located within introns and intergenic spaces, alongside increased antisense transcription that may suppress these mobile genetic elements under acute stress. Protein synthesis rates declined globally following competition, consistent with the metabolic prioritisation observed during systemic stress responses. For practitioners managing endurance horses, these findings suggest that exercise-induced transcriptional remodelling extends well beyond classical inflammatory markers; the coordinate activation of immune, signalling, and nucleic acid-binding pathways indicates a complex, multi-system physiological adjustment to athletic demand. Understanding this molecular signature may eventually inform recovery monitoring, training load assessment, and early detection of maladaptive stress responses in competition horses.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Exercise-induced stress in endurance horses activates coordinated immune and inflammatory responses at the molecular level; understanding this genomic response may help optimize recovery protocols
- •The transient decrease in global protein synthesis post-race suggests timing considerations for nutritional support and training load management in athletes
- •Gene expression patterns indicate endurance exercise triggers inflammation and immune signaling—practitioners should monitor clinical signs of excessive inflammation and adjust conditioning accordingly
Key Findings
- •RNA-sequencing revealed a shift from coding to non-coding gene expression regions post-race, with increased reads from transposable elements (L1 and L2)
- •Antisense transcription increased in intronic and regulatory regions, suggesting a mechanism for transposon regulation under exercise stress
- •Global protein synthesis rates decreased transiently post-race, indicating a general stress response
- •Gene expression analysis identified stress-activated biological processes involving inflammation, immune signaling (Toll-like receptors, chemokines), kinases, and cell signaling pathways