Carleigh Fedorka: Synthetic Progestin Treatment Alters Cytokine Expression and Impairs Vaccine Response
Carleigh Fedorka, Assistant Professor at Colorado State University, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“New Publication from the Fedorka Lab: Impacts of Altrenogest on Vaccine Response in Mares
Altrenogest is one of the most widely used tools in equine practice – supporting reproductive management, behavior, and pregnancy maintenance. But how does it influence the immune system?
In our latest study, we investigated how altrenogest affects vaccine response in mares – and the results highlight an important intersection between reproductive management and immunology.
Key findings:
- Suppression of critical cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IFNγ)
- Reduced serum neutralizing antibody response following vaccination
- Altered kinetics of immune response, suggesting delayed or modified protection
Vaccination remains the cornerstone of infectious disease prevention in the equine industry. These findings suggest that commonly used progestins may modulate immune function in ways that impact vaccine efficacy, with important implications for herd health, breeding management, and disease risk.
This work underscores the need to better understand how management practices intersect with immune competence, particularly in performance and breeding populations.
Proud of this collaborative work and the continued efforts to bridge reproductive physiology and immunology in the horse.
Read the full article here.”
Title: Synthetic progestin treatment alters cytokine expression and impairs vaccine response in horses
Authors: Carmen L. Kapadia, Rebecca A. Crook, Stephen Coleman, Grace Unger, Robert H. Douglas, Carleigh E. Fedorka
Stay updated on all scientific advances in the field of fertility with Fertility News.
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:56PMOS Can Affect Much More Than Periods or Fertility – PCOS Awareness Association
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:42Asma Khalil: Recreational Drug Use During Pregnancy, What Every Expectant Mother Should Know!
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:40Khalil Faaed: Are Complex Y Chromosome Rearrangements the Missing Link in Unexplained Male Infertility?
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:38Sean Lauber: Does Transferring a Cleavage or Blastocyst Stage Embryo Affect the Chance of Having a Boy?
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:33Rokaya Hachicho: The Hidden Cost of Excessive Laser Use During Trophectoderm Biopsy!
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:31Join the ISUOG Webinar on Late-Evolving Fetal Anomalies – ISUOG
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:29Waiting Before Clamping the Umbilical Cord Improves Neonatal Outcomes! – RCOG
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:27Christopher Robinson: The Impact of Body Mass Index on Misoprostol Dosing for Labor Induction!
-
Jul 25, 2026, 10:26Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Dysmenorrhea in Adolescents – IJGO