Isolation and Characterization of Equine Lymph Node Endothelial Cells.

Abstract

In vitro models have revolutionized our understanding of biological pathways and mechanisms, offering a viable alternative to direct patient testing. However, there is a significant lack of models for different animals, particularly equine models. This study presents a novel primary cell culture extracted from a 3-year-old horse diagnosed with multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease. Tissue samples were collected from lymph nodes at various locations. Growth curves of extracted primary cells were analyzed and the optimal conditions were assessed. Biomarkers, such as CD31, ZO-1, CD79, Beta-catenin, E-cadherin, and LYE-1, were detected using an immunofluorescence assay, indicating that these primary cells are of endothelial origin. Initial whole-genome sequencing was performed to confirm the species' origin and to identify the number of common variations in comparison with the NIH EquCab3.0 reference genome. For the first time, the establishment of primary equine cells from lymph nodes is reported, and these can be used as an in vitro model for testing drug responses, molecular pathways, and environmental effects.