Chapter 3 The immue system of the older horse Flashcards
What has led to the increased longevity of horses?
“Improvements in health care and advancements in science and medicine.”
What is the challenge associated with increased horse longevity?
“Increased potential for age-associated diseases.”
What is aging?
“A complex phenomenon where the effectiveness of several physiological systems becomes compromised over time.”
At what chronological age is a horse typically considered old in studies?
“20 years of age.”
How do chronological age and biological age differ?
“Chronological age is the individual’s age in years
What percentage of the equine population in the UK is 15 years or older?
“29%.”
What are the most common clinical conditions in horses 20 years or older?
“Gastrointestinal
What is pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID)?
“A common condition in old horses affecting the pituitary gland
What factors contribute to the decline in immune function with age?
“Immunosenescence and inflamm-aging.”
What is immunosenescence?
“An age-related decline in immune function.”
What is inflamm-aging?
“A chronic
What changes occur in the innate immune system of aged horses?
“Generally remains intact
What changes occur in the adaptive immune system of aged horses?
“Decline in lymphocyte count
What are the implications of thymic involution in aged horses?
“Reduced production and diversity of T cells.”
How does telomere shortening relate to immunosenescence?
“Progressive telomere shortening leads to cell senescence and decreased proliferation potential.”
What are the effects of aging on B cells in horses?
“Potential decrease in function and response to antigens.”
What are the common clinical conditions associated with aging in horses?
“Arthritis
What are the common infectious diseases in aged horses?
“Increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections due to immune decline.”
What role does nutrition play in modulating immune function in aged horses?
“Nutritional interventions can help counteract immunosenescence and inflamm-aging.”
What dietary compounds are beneficial for the immune system of aged horses?
“Flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds from blueberries
What was the effect of vitamin E supplementation in aged horses?
“Improved bacteria-killing ability of immune cells and enhanced humoral immune responses.”
What are prebiotics and probiotics?
“Functional foods that modulate the immune system
What was the result of supplementing aged horses with prebiotic yeast?
“Reduced inflammation and enhanced immune response to vaccination.”
What are the main findings regarding inflamm-aging in aged horses?
“Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1b
How does obesity affect inflamm-aging in aged horses?
“Increases the frequency of lymphocytes and monocytes producing inflammatory cytokines.”
What are the effects of inflamm-aging on the lungs of aged horses?
“Increased frequency of IFN-gamma producing lymphocytes
What were the results of influenza challenge studies in aged horses?
“Exacerbated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines post-infection.”
Why is periodic vaccination important for aged horses?
“To maintain protective immunity due to reduced antibody production and memory response.”
What are the effects of chronic inflammation on health?
“Associated with diseases like atherosclerosis
What cytokines are involved in inflamm-aging?
“Pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6
What is the impact of inflamm-aging on leukocyte telomere length?
“Accelerated shortening
What study showed the potential of curcuminoids over NSAIDs in reducing inflammation?
“Siard et al. (2013) study on polyphenolic bioactive compounds.”
What was the outcome of the study on vitamin E supplementation in aged horses?
“Enhanced immune responses and improved bacteria-killing ability of immune cells.”
What is the role of cytokine IL-10 in inflamm-aging?
“Anti-inflammatory cytokine decreased in elderly
What was observed in aged horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction?
“Increased expression of IL-8 and higher inflammatory activity.”
What is the significance of the study on prebiotic yeast supplementation?
“Demonstrated reduced inflammation and enhanced immune response in aged horses.”
What are the potential benefits of functional foods for aged horses?
“Enhancing both innate and adaptive immune responses.”
What is the relationship between chronic inflammation and age-related diseases?
“Chronic inflammation may contribute to the development and progression of age-related diseases.”
What are the effects of aging on lymphocyte proliferative responses?
“Decreased T cell proliferation and reduced immune responses.”
What is the effect of recombinant interleukin (IL)-2 supplementation in aged horses?
“Did not significantly improve T cell proliferation
How does telomere-driven replicative exhaustion affect immune cells?
“Leads to immunosenescence by causing cell senescence and reducing proliferation.”
What are the common changes in T cell populations in the elderly?
“Decreased frequencies of naïve T cells
What was the conclusion of the study on equine influenza vaccination in aged horses?
“Aged horses had reduced humoral immune response to inactivated influenza virus vaccines.”
What did the study on rabies vaccination reveal about aged horses?
“Aged horses mounted an initial response similar to younger horses but did not maintain adequate antibody titers.”
What was the outcome of the canarypox-vectored influenza vaccine study?
“Aged horses had pre-existing immunity but showed only slight antibody response enhancement post-vaccination.”
Why is it important to understand the mechanisms of age-associated immune dysfunction?
“To provide optimal care for older horses and mitigate the effects of immunosenescence and inflamm-aging.”
How does the immune system of aged horses differ from younger horses?
“Aged horses have a decline in both innate and adaptive immune responses
