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Carleigh Fedorka: Synthetic Progestin Treatment Alters Cytokine Expression and Impairs Vaccine Response
Carleigh Fedorka/LinkedIn
Apr 11, 2026, 16:41

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

Carleigh Fedorka: Synthetic Progestin Treatment Alters Cytokine Expression and Impairs Vaccine Response

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Altrenogest antibody response behavior breeding management breeding populations Carleigh E. Fedorka Carleigh Fedorka Carmen L. Kapadia critical cytokines disease risk equine industry Fedorka Lab Fertility Fertility News Grace Unger herd health IFNγ IL-10 IL-1β IL-6 immune function Immune Response immune system Immunology infectious disease modified protection pregnancy maintenance Rebecca A. Crook reproductive health reproductive management Reproductive Medicine Reproductive Physiology Robert H. Douglas Stephen Coleman Vaccine Efficacy Vaccine Response
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