Gene expression data of alveolar macrophages derived from Standardbred racehorses before and during training period

Mild to moderate equine asthma is prevalent in young racehorses, particularly early in their training period. Although the precise aetiopathogenesis remains undetermined, it is possible that the susceptibility of this population might partly reflect an exercise-associated immune derangement at the level of the airway. We performed a genome-wide basal gene expression scan on alveolar macrophages (AMs) isolated from Standardbred racehorses prior to and after commencement of competition race training with a view to identifying any exercise-associated gene expression modulation consistent with functional alterations which might reflect training-associated immunological derangement. Microarray technology was used to analyse the basal gene expression profiles of bronchoalveolar fluid-derived AMs, harvested from six systemically healthy Standardbred racehorses prior to (T0) and following (T1) entry into training. The samples were collected from the animals at least one week after the entry into training (up to 7 weeks).