Abstract
SummaryBackgroundMolecular serum markers that can identify early reversible osteoarthritis (OA) in horses are lacking.ObjectivesWe studied serum concentrations of a novel cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) neo‐epitope in horses subjected to short‐term exercise and with acute lameness. The effects of circadian rhythm and age were also evaluated.Study designLongitudinal studies in healthy horses and cross‐sectional comparison of lame and non‐lame horses.MethodsSera were collected from five horses before and after short‐term interval exercise and during full‐day box rest. Sera from 32 acutely lame horses were used to evaluate age‐related effects. Independent samples from control horses (n = 41) and horses with acute lameness (n = 71) were included. COMP neo‐epitope concentrations were analysed using custom‐developed inhibition ELISAs validated for equine serum. The presence of COMP neo‐epitope was delineated in healthy and osteoarthritic articular cartilage with immunohistochemistry.Results COMP neo‐epitope concentrations decreased after speed training but returned to baseline levels post‐exercise. No correlations between age and serum COMP neo‐epitope concentrations were found (r = 0.0013). The mean (±s.d.) serum concentration of COMP neo‐epitope in independent samples from non‐lame horses was 0.84 ± 0.38 μg/mL, and for lame horses was 5.24 ± 1.83 μg/mL (P<0.001). Antibodies against COMP neo‐epitope did not stain normal articular cartilage, but intracytoplasmic staining was found in superficial chondrocytes of mild OA cartilage and in the extracellular matrix of moderately osteoarthritic cartilage.Main limitations ELISA was based on polyclonal antisera rather than a monoclonal antibody. There is a sex and breed bias within the groups of horses, also it could have been of value to include horses with septic arthritis and tendonitis and investigated joint differences.ConclusionsThis COMP neo‐epitope can be measured in sera, and results indicate that it could be a biomarker for pathologic fragmentation of cartilage in connection with acute joint lameness.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis (OA), a slow and progressive low-grade inflammatory disease [1,2], affects the athletic horse at an early age [3]
Specific antibodies that detect matrix components and proteinases in sera, urine and synovial fluids from horses have been used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) [4]
Our aim was to develop an ELISA that can measure this neo-epitope in serum and delineate if short-term training, circadian rhythm, age of the horse and acute lameness affect its concentration
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA), a slow and progressive low-grade inflammatory disease [1,2], affects the athletic horse at an early age [3]. Different imaging techniques are limited in distinguishing normal tissue from early disease [5]. This has shifted focus towards biochemical fluid (‘wet’) markers [4]. Specific antibodies that detect matrix components and proteinases in sera, urine and synovial fluids from horses have been used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) [4]. Available biomarker assays are unable to distinguish pathologic fragmentation from normal cartilage turnover; instead, biomarkers of cartilage matrix changes must exclusively detect
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