Veterinární Medicína (Nov 2015)
Changes in leukocyte counts, lymphocyte subpopulations and the mRNA expression of selected cytokines in the peripheral blood of dogs with atopic dermatitis
Abstract
Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a chronic allergic disease characterised by genetic predisposition. The exact pathogenesis of the disease is still not fully understood. Blood parameters, lymphocyte subpopulations, cytokines and other molecules involved in pro- and anti-inflammatory activities, and Th1/Th2 polarisation in peripheral blood were assessed in clinically healthy dogs and dogs with AD by haematological examination, flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. The group of diseased dogs was further divided into subgroups according to the severity of clinical signs expressed as CADESI-03 (canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index) values. The group of dogs with CAD showed mild neutrophilia without general leucocytosis, reduced numbers of B-lymphocytes (P < 0.05), increased relative numbers of T-lymphocytes (P < 0.01) decreased absolute numbers of double-positive lymphocytes (P < 0.001) and NK cells (P < 0.05) as compared with healthy controls. The expression levels of IL-10 mRNA were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the group with CAD. Correlation with CADESI-03 was observed in expression levels of CCL3 (P < 0.05), CCL5 (P < 0.05) and SOCS-3 mRNAs (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the disease stage investigated in the present study is characterised by a chronic inflammatory response.
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