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Published on: September 27, 2019
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Interleukin 31 mediates pruritus in horses.
Nicky M Craig1,2, Nathalie S Munguia1, Andrew D Trujillo1
1College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
American Journal of Veterinary Research
|October 15, 2024
Summary
Interleukin 31 (IL-31) causes itching in horses and activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in allergic horses, indicating it is a potential therapeutic target for equine pruritus.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary immunology
- Equine dermatology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Interleukin 31 (IL-31) is a cytokine implicated in pruritus in various species.
- Understanding IL-31's role in horses is crucial for managing allergic skin diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of recombinant equine IL-31 (eIL-31) in vivo and in vitro.
- To assess the potential of IL-31 as a therapeutic target for equine pruritus.
Main Methods:
- Produced and purified recombinant eIL-31 using bacterial and mammalian systems.
- Administered eIL-31 to horses and monitored pruritus-associated behaviors.
- Stimulated monocytes from allergic horses with eIL-31 and measured STAT3 phosphorylation.
Main Results:
- Bacterial eIL-31 showed higher purity and induced more significant pruritus than mammalian eIL-31.
- Pruritus was dose-dependent and primarily occurred 2-4 hours post-injection.
- Bacterial eIL-31 stimulated STAT3 phosphorylation in monocytes from allergic horses.
Conclusions:
- Equine IL-31 mediates pruritus and STAT3 phosphorylation, similar to other species.
- IL-31 represents a promising therapeutic target for alleviating allergic pruritus in horses.
