Different expression of Defensin-B gene in the endometrium of mares of different age during the breeding season.
Authors: Crociati M, Capomaccio S, Mandara M T, Stradaioli G, Sylla L, Monaci M, Cappelli K
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Endometrosis remains a leading cause of subfertility in mares, yet the underlying immunological and tissue remodelling mechanisms driving the condition are incompletely understood. Crociati and colleagues investigated whether age-related changes in endometrial gene expression might explain age-associated increases in endometrosis risk by analysing mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators (tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6), tissue remodelling enzymes (matrix metalloproteinase-9, collagen types I and III), fibrosis-related factors (transforming growth factor-beta 1 and its receptor), and immune-regulatory genes (defensin-B4B, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, forkhead box P3) in endometrial biopsies from mares across different age groups during the breeding season. Key findings demonstrated significant age-dependent alterations in gene expression profiles, with defensin-B4B—a key antimicrobial peptide crucial for innate immune defence—showing notably reduced expression in older mares, alongside dysregulation of pro-inflammatory and fibrotic pathways. These results suggest that diminished local immune competence combined with increased fibrotic gene activity in ageing endometrium creates an environment conducive to chronic inflammation and endometrial remodelling. For practitioners, these findings reinforce the importance of early detection and intervention strategies in older mares, and indicate that age-related immune senescence may warrant investigation as a tractable therapeutic target to mitigate endometrosis progression.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Age significantly affects endometrial immune competence and inflammatory response in mares; older mares may have compromised local uterine defense mechanisms contributing to endometrosis risk
- •Gene expression profiling of endometrial biopsies could help identify age-related endometrial dysfunction earlier and guide management strategies for aging mares
- •Understanding the immune modulation cascade in older mares may enable targeted interventions to prevent pro-inflammatory tissue remodeling and endometrial fibrosis
Key Findings
- •Defensin-B gene (DEFB4B) expression differs significantly in endometrial tissue across mares of different ages during breeding season
- •Local immune modulation genes show altered expression patterns associated with age-related endometrial changes
- •Age-related endometrial fibrosis correlates with pro-inflammatory gene expression cascades involving collagen, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and TGF-beta pathways