Research article

Exercise-induced up-regulation of MMP-1 and IL-8 genes in endurance horses

Katia Cappelli^* , Michela Felicetti^* , Stefano Capomaccio^* , Camillo Pieramati , Maurizio Silvestrelli and Andrea Verini-Supplizi

Pathology, Diagnostic and Veterinary Clinic Department, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Physiology 2009, 9:12doi:10.1186/1472-6793-9-12

Published:	24 June 2009

Abstract

Background

The stress response is a critical factor in the training of equine athletes; it is important for performance and for protection of the animal against physio-pathological disorders.

In this study, the molecular mechanisms involved in the response to acute and strenuous exercise were investigated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Results

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect modifications in transcription levels of the genes for matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), which were derived from previous genome-wide expression analysis. Significant up-regulation of these two genes was found in 10 horses that had completed a race of 90–120 km in a time-course experimental design.

Conclusion

These results suggest that MMP-1 and IL-8 are both involved in the exercise-induced stress response, and this represents a starting point from which to understand the adaptive responses to this phenomenon.