Expression of a particular protein in fat tissue is positively associated with an increased rate of postoperative mortality in horses, researchers recently reported.

The research was led by Melissa Packer, BVetMed, MRCVS, who recently finished a three year clinical training program at the University of Liverpool, funded by The Horse Trust.

Packer collected abdominal fat samples from around 230 horses undergoing colic surgery. She then looked at the expression of various cytokine genes in the fat tissue to see which cytokines were being produced. Each of the 230 horses were then followed over the next two years, with data gathered on postoperative complications and survival following colic surgery.

After analysing fat samples from 78 horses, Packer found a significant and positive association between the expression of a cytokine called MCP-1 and an increased rate of postoperative mortality