In:
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Wiley, Vol. 35, No. 6 ( 2021-11), p. 2846-2852
Abstract:
Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME, aka Pug dog encephalitis) is an inflammatory brain condition associated with advanced disease at initial presentation, rapid progression, and poor response to conventional immunomodulatory therapy. Hypothesis/Objectives That genetic risk for NME, defined by a common germline DNA haplotype located on chromosome 12, is associated with altered blood cytokine concentrations and leukocyte subsets in asymptomatic Pugs. Animals Forty Pug dogs asymptomatic for NME from a hospital sample. Methods Prospective observational cohort study, including germline genome‐wide genotyping, plasma cytokine determination by multiplexed profiling, and leukocyte subset characterization by flow cytometric analysis. Results Seven (18%) dogs were high risk, 10 (25%) medium risk, and 23 (58%) low risk for NME, giving a risk haplotype frequency of 30%. High and medium risk Pugs had significantly lower proportion of CD4+ T cells (median 22% [range, 7.3%‐38%] vs 29% [range, 16%‐41%] , P = .03) and higher plasma IL‐10 concentrations than low‐risk Pugs (median 14.11 pg/mL [range, 9.66‐344.19 pg/mL] vs 12.21 pg/mL [range, 2.59‐18.53 pg/mL] , P = .001). No other variables were significantly associated with the NME haplotype‐based risk. Conclusions and Clinical Importance These data suggest an immunological underpinning to NME and a biologic rationale for future clinical trials that investigate novel diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic strategies for this disease.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0891-6640
,
1939-1676
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2177690-8
SSG:
22
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