Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gene changes in lung disease of West Highland white terriers
By Krafft, E et al.·Published in Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)·2013·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Analysis of gene expression in canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A West Highland White Terrier with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was studied to understand the disease better and identify potential biomarkers. This condition, which affects the lungs and is rare in dogs, showed significant changes in gene expression related to cell growth and movement. Researchers found that levels of a specific protein, CCL2, were much higher in affected dogs compared to healthy ones, suggesting it could be a useful marker for diagnosing IPF. While the study focused on gene expression, it highlights the importance of monitoring for symptoms like coughing or breathing difficulties in terriers, and discussing these findings with your veterinarian.
People also search for: West Highland White Terrier breathing problems · dog idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis symptoms · CCL2 biomarker in dogs
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in dogs is a rare disease of unknown aetiology, seen in terrier breeds, particularly the West Highland white terrier (WHWT). The aim of this study was to determine pulmonary gene expression in canine IPF in order to gain insights into the pathogenesis of the disease and to identify possible biomarkers. Microarray analyses were conducted to determine gene expression profiles in the lungs of dogs with IPF and control dogs of various breeds. More than 700 genes were identified as having greater than two-fold difference in expression between the two groups. The significant biological functions associated with these genes were related to cellular growth and proliferation, developmental processes, cellular movement, cell to cell signalling and interaction, and antigen presentation. Altered levels of expression were confirmed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR for genes encoding chemokine (C-C) ligand (CCL) 2 (+4.9 times), CCL7 (+6.8 times), interleukin 8 (+4.32 times), chemokine (C-X-C) ligand 14 (+3.4 times), fibroblast activation protein (+4.7 times) and the palate, lung and nasal associated protein (PLUNC, -25 times). Serum CCL2 concentrations were significantly higher in WHWTs with IPF (mean 628.1 pg/mL, interquartile range 460.3-652.7 pg/mL) than unaffected WHWTs (mean 344.0 pg/mL, interquartile range 254.5-415.5 pg/mL; P=0.001). The results support CCL2 as a candidate biomarker for IPF in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24120450/