Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Immune system changes in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy
By Moore, Emily et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of Immune System Components in Dogs With Protein-Losing Enteropathy Compared to Healthy Controls.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), a condition that causes severe gastrointestinal issues, showed lower levels of certain immune system proteins compared to healthy dogs. Specifically, the affected dogs had reduced amounts of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), which are important for fighting infections. Additionally, key immune cell markers were also found to be lower in these dogs. Understanding these immune deficiencies can help veterinarians better manage and monitor dogs with PLE, potentially improving their treatment outcomes.
People also search for: dog protein-losing enteropathy symptoms · low immune system in dogs · treatment for dog gastrointestinal issues
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immune system abnormalities including hypogammaglobulinemia and T-cell deficiency occur in humans with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). It is unknown whether similar abnormalities occur in dogs with PLE. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations and immune cell populations in dogs with PLE (with histologic evidence of chronic inflammatory enteropathy, intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL), or both) compared to healthy controls (HC). ANIMALS: Eighteen dogs with PLE and 18 HC dogs. METHODS: Prospective study. Serum IgA, IgG, and IgM concentrations were measured via ELISA in treatment-naïve dogs with PLE and compared to concentrations in HC dogs. RNA gene expression of specific immune cell surface markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured in both groups by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Dogs with PLE had lower concentrations of serum IgG compared to HC dogs (4.5 mg/mL, range 0.67-22.4 mg/mL vs. 19 mg/mL, range 1.8-80.3 mg/mL; p < 0.001). Serum IgM concentrations were also lower in dogs with PLE versus HC (2.4 mg/mL, range 0.0009-53.1 mg/mL vs. 14.2 mg/mL, range 2.1-172.8 mg/mL; p = 0.002). Expression of CD3e (0.24, range 0.003-1.1 vs. 0.92, range 0.41-3.2; p < 0.001), CD5 (0.17, range 0.01-0.46 vs. 0.94, range 0.23-5; p < 0.001), and CD8 (0.47, range 0.06-1.7 vs. 0.92, range 0.32-2.4; p = 0.007) were reduced in dogs with PLE compared to their mean absolute expression in HC dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with PLE have quantitative reductions in immune system components, similar to humans with IL. These abnormalities in immune system components might be considered in the management and monitoring of dogs with PLE.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40988630/