In Vitro Assays for the Assessment of Impaired Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Equine Atypical Myopathy
Caroline-J. Kruse,
David Stern,
Ange Mouithys-Mickalad,
Ariane Niesten,
Tatiana Art,
Hélène Lemieux,
Dominique-M. Votion
Affiliations
Caroline-J. Kruse
Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Physiology and Sport Medicine, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
David Stern
Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Ange Mouithys-Mickalad
Center for Oxygen, Research & Development (CORD), Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM), Institute of Chemistry, B6a, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août, 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Ariane Niesten
Center for Oxygen, Research & Development (CORD), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Institute of Chemistry, B6a, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août, 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Tatiana Art
Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Physiology and Sport Medicine, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Hélène Lemieux
Faculty Saint-Jean and Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 8406-91 Street, Edmonton, AB T6C 4G9, Canada
Dominique-M. Votion
Equine Pole, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Equine atypical myopathy is a seasonal intoxication of grazing equids. In Europe, this poisoning is associated with the ingestion of toxins contained in the seeds and seedlings of the sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus). The toxins involved in atypical myopathy are known to inhibit ß-oxidation of fatty acids and induce a general decrease in mitochondrial respiration, as determined by high-resolution respirometry applied to muscle samples taken from cases of atypical myopathy. The severe impairment of mitochondrial bioenergetics induced by the toxins may explain the high rate of mortality observed: about 74% of horses with atypical myopathy die, most within the first two days of signs of poisoning. The mechanism of toxicity is not completely elucidated yet. To improve our understanding of the pathological process and to assess therapeutic candidates, we designed in vitro assays using equine skeletal myoblasts cultured from muscle biopsies and subjected to toxins involved in atypical myopathy. We established that equine primary myoblasts do respond to one of the toxins incriminated in the disease.
