Cyclooxygenase-2 and von Willebrand factor-an immunohistochemical study of the equine foot with and without laminitis, post-mortem perfused with paraffin oil.
Authors: Underberg Bianca A, Van der Vekens Elke, Drews Barbara, Kaessmeyer Sabine
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Laminitis involves profound inflammatory and vascular dysfunction within the equine foot, yet the specific cellular mechanisms driving these changes remain incompletely understood. Researchers developed and validated immunohistochemical protocols to visualise cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) expression in post-mortem equine feet with and without laminitis, using paraffin oil perfusion to preserve tissue architecture during processing. COX-2, a key inflammatory enzyme, and vWF, a marker of endothelial activation and microvascular dysfunction, were compared between laminitic and control tissues to characterise the inflammatory and vascular pathology underlying the disease. The findings provide new methodology for detecting these critical markers and offer insights into how endothelial damage and inflammatory cascades manifest histologically in laminitic tissue, potentially informing therapeutic targets. For practitioners, these immunohistochemical protocols enable more detailed post-mortem assessment of laminitis cases, supporting research into anti-inflammatory and vascular-protective interventions whilst advancing understanding of why certain treatments (such as COX inhibitors) may benefit affected horses.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •This research establishes laboratory methods for studying the vascular and inflammatory pathology of laminitis, providing tools for understanding disease mechanisms
- •Paraffin oil perfusion technique may improve tissue quality in post-mortem equine foot examinations for research purposes
- •Better understanding of COX-2 and vWF involvement in laminitis could inform future anti-inflammatory treatment strategies
Key Findings
- •Immunohistochemistry protocols were successfully developed for detecting COX-2 and von Willebrand factor in equine foot tissue
- •Post-mortem paraffin oil perfusion enabled preservation and visualization of vascular and inflammatory markers in laminitic and non-laminitic feet
- •COX-2 and vWF expression patterns differed between laminitic and non-laminitic foot tissue samples