Similar to human diabetes, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) causes insulin dysregulation leading to debilitating sequela including laminitis. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying EMS and laminitis are not well known. Therefore, using an insulin-resistant equine model, the authors hypothesized that insulin dysregulation induces an increased expression of inflammatory proteins in a tissue specific manner. 

Two groups of horses (n = -5/group) were categorized as insulin-resistant (IR) or insulin-sensitive (IS), using a frequently sampled intra-venous glucose tolerance test. Biopsies from skeletal muscle, and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues were collected in both groups. Protein expression was quantified via Western blotting in order to investigate HSP90, α 2 macroglobulin (A2M), Fibrinogen α, β, γ isoforms as well as cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in muscle and adipose tissues.