Efficacy of an Extract of Blue-Green Algae in Amelioration of Lameness Caused by Degenerative Joint Disease in the Horse

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis in the equine is largely a result of biomechanical stressors that result in inflammation within the joint, which with continual exposure, leads to progressive degeneration. A myriad of therapies are available for treatment of horses with DJD including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, physiological modifiers, and biological therapies. C-phycocyanin, a protein-bound pigment found in blue-green algae, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is available as a diet supplement in people, dogs, and horses. Forty-one horses with naturally occurring lameness as a result of DJD were selected for this study. In a blinded study, horses were randomly assigned to either the commercial or placebo product that was fed once daily for 12 months. At selected time points, lameness evaluation was performed through objective gait analysis. Previous medical records for management of lameness were reviewed for all enrolled horses. No statistically significant differences existed within or between the two groups when gait was evaluated objectively nor within individual horses between time points. Review of medical records found that five treated horses had a decreased in frequency of intra-articular injection of corticosteroids. Although this study did not find statistically significant improvement of lameness with oral daily supplementation of C-phycocyanin in equine athletes, there appeared to be a trend of improvement in lameness during the loading period and a decrease in frequency of administration of intra-articular corticosteroids. Further investigations using a higher dose seem warranted.     

集胞藻6803藻胆体藻蓝蛋白多克隆抗体制备及其初步应用

通过PCR扩增出集胞藻6803 C-PC编码基因cpcA,构建表达质粒pET32a(+)-cpcA,转化大肠菌株BL21(DE3)pLysS,用IPTG诱导表达、经His-tag纯化后免疫日本大耳白兔获得多克隆抗体。间接ELISA法揭示该抗体效价可高达1∶1 025 000;蛋白免疫印迹确定该抗体具有高度特异性。应用该抗体进行蛋白免疫印迹检测,结果发现C-PC蛋白在生长光与高光培养条件下的数量,以及与2个光系统间的连结数量均存在显著差异,为进一步研究藻胆体的杆在响应与适应机制中所承担的重要角色奠定了生化基础。