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Matrix Metalloproteinases In The Equine Systemic Inflammatory Response: Implications For Equine Laminitis, Lee Ann Fugler

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Laminitis is a crippling and often life-threatening disease of the equine foot. Soft tissue damage characteristic of this disease has been associated with increased MMP activity. Therefore, it seems likely that MMPIs could be potential therapeutic agents for laminitis. Further characterization of equine MMPs and evaluation of the effectiveness of MMPIs in the horse are needed. Equine MMP-9 was harvested from neutrophils, purified by affinity chromatography, and evaluated using western blotting and gelatin zymography. The Biotrak MMP-9 Activity Assay was evaluated for use with equine samples using equine neutrophil MMP-9 as a standard, and was determined to have insufficient sensitivity …