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Noninvasive evaluation of vascular endothelial growth factor‐A ( VEGF ‐A) protein concentrations in the stratum corneum and serum of healthy and atopic dogs
Author(s) -
Cobiella Danielle,
Gram Dunbar,
Santoro Domenico
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/vde.12798
Subject(s) - stratum corneum , vascular endothelial growth factor , vegf receptors , atopic dermatitis , medicine , andrology , immunology , pathology
Background Vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) is a cytokine involved primarily in angiogenesis. In human atopic dermatitis (AD), VEGF has been detected in the stratum corneum and blood. Objective To evaluate VEGF ‐A expression in the serum and stratum corneum of healthy and atopic dogs, and its possible correlation with disease severity in atopic dogs. Animal Fifteen atopic and 15 healthy, privately owned dogs. Methods and materials The severity of clinical signs associated with AD was evaluated with the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index ( CADESI ‐04). For all dogs, a single blood sample was performed and serum collected. Tape stripping (15 times) was performed on the left periocular area (lesional skin). A commercially available canine‐specific VEGF ‐A enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was performed with all samples. Results Vascular endothelial growth factor‐A was undetectable in the serum. In the stratum corneum, there was no significant difference in VEGF ‐A concentrations between healthy (mean 89.4 ± 59.5 pg/ml) and atopic dogs (mean 100.3 ± 77.1pg/ml) ( P = 0.71). There was no correlation between stratum corneum VEGF ‐A concentrations and CADESI ‐04 scores. Conclusions and clinical importance The role of VEGF in canine AD is unclear. Because of many variants, VEGF ‐C and VEGF ‐D or VEGF ‐A isotopes should be explored in the skin to better evaluate the role of VEGF in canine atopy. Full‐thickness skin biopsy, molecular biology and histopathological investigation may be necessary to further assess cutaneous VEGF expression.