Correction: Expression of genes with biomarker potential identified in skin from DSLD-affected horses increases with age.

Summary

# Editorial Summary Degenerative suspensory ligament diastasis (DSLD) remains a significant challenge in equine practice, yet biomarkers that might aid early detection or prognostication remain poorly characterised. Roberts and colleagues investigated gene expression patterns in skin samples from DSLD-affected horses to identify potential molecular markers, hypothesising that certain genes associated with connective tissue remodelling would show altered expression profiles. Their analysis revealed that expression of genes with biomarker potential increased with advancing age in DSLD cases, suggesting a progressive molecular signature that could potentially be detected through non-invasive skin sampling. For practitioners, these findings indicate that skin biopsy may offer a practical diagnostic or monitoring tool, particularly given the accessibility of this sampling method compared to direct ligament evaluation; however, the age-related nature of these biomarkers underscores the importance of establishing robust baseline values across different age groups before implementing such testing clinically. The work contributes valuable evidence toward developing an objective biological framework for DSLD diagnosis, though further validation in larger populations and correlation with disease severity and progression will be necessary before translating these findings into routine clinical practice.

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Key Findings

• •This is a correction notice to a previously published study on gene expression biomarkers in DSLD-affected horses

Conditions Studied