Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Studies on the Expression of Epithelial Keratins in Clinically Unchanged Horse Skin and Foot Skin of Heavy Draft Horses with Verrucous Pastern Dermatitis Syndrome

The study investigated the expression of epithelial keratins in horse skin, particularly in heavy draft horses with verrucous pastern dermatitis syndrome. Using nine antibodies against human keratins, researchers examined their cross-reactivity with equine keratins through immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The study found that antibodies against human K6 and K16 specifically cross-reacted with equine keratins, and diseased foot skin showed significantly increased expression of these keratins, correlating with epidermal hyperplasia. This pattern is similar to wound healing and inflammatory skin diseases in mammals, suggesting a conserved keratin expression response to growth factors and cytokines.