Open AccessInterleukin‐13 and interleukin‐33 mRNA are underexpressed in the duodenal mucosa of German Shepherd dogs with chronic enteropathy
Author(s) -
Kathrani Aarti,
Lezcano Victor,
Hall Edward J.,
Jergens Albert E.,
Seo YeonJung,
Mochel Jonathan P.,
Atherly Todd,
Allenspach Karin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.15544
Subject(s) - lamina propria , beagle , enteropathy , medicine , intestinal mucosa , biopsy , in situ hybridization , pathology , interleukin , gastroenterology , cytokine , gene expression , disease , biology , gene , epithelium , biochemistry
Background A recent genome‐wide association study in German Shepherd dogs (GSDs) with chronic enteropathy (CE) has identified polymorphisms in the Th2 cytokine genes. Hypothesis/objective To determine if the expression of the Th2 cytokines, interleukin‐13 (IL‐13) and interleukin‐33 (IL‐33), is altered in the duodenal mucosa of GSDs with CE compared to non‐GSDs with CE and healthy dogs. Animals Twenty client‐owned dogs diagnosed with CE (10 GSDs and 10 non‐GSDs) at the Bristol Veterinary School and 8 healthy Beagle dogs from the Iowa State University Service Colony. Methods Retrospective study using archived paraffin‐embedded duodenal biopsy samples. A novel RNA in situ hybridization technology (RNAscope) was used to hybridize IL‐13 and IL‐33 mRNA probes onto at least 10 sections from duodenal biopsy samples for each dog. RNAscope signals were visualized using a microscope and semi‐quantitative assessment was performed by a single operator. Results Based on duodenal villus, subvillus, epithelial, and lamina propria average expression scores, GSDs with CE had significantly lower IL‐13 and IL‐33 mRNA expression compared to non‐GSDs with CE (IL‐13, P < .04; IL‐33, P < .02) and healthy Beagle dogs (IL‐13, P < .02; IL‐33, P < .004). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Similar to human patients with ulcerative colitis, a subtype of human inflammatory bowel disease, these data indicate that Th2 cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of CE in GSDs.