Anti-inflammatory effects of seaweed extract in dogs with chronic gut

Abstract

Like terrestrial plants, algae contain a vast number of biofunctional compounds, some of which may affect inflammatory and immune responses in animals. As such, algal bioactive components might be useful in the treatment of canine chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE), where persistent inflammation underlies clinical signs. In this investigation, we studied the effects of Ascophyllum nodosum-extracted fucoidans (ANFE) on cytokine gene and protein expression and the morphology of intestinal tissue explants from CIE dogs. Duodenal biopsies from 22 dogs with CIE were incubated for 24 hours with and without ANFE, using three replicate samples per treatment from each animal. Tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and interleukin-15 proteins were measured in culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas relative expression of the genes for interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, interleukin-15, interleukin-10, forkhead box protein P3, and indoleamine- pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase-1 was assessed through real-time qPCR. Inflammatory cell infiltrate and mucosal integrity were evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopy. Cytokine protein concentrations were all below the detection limit, and no differences were found in terms of morphological features between the groups with and without ANFE. With respect to transcriptomic data, however, mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory genes TNFA and IL15 were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the group without ANFE. In conclusion, while failing to improve morphological outcomes, ANFE supplementation may be associated with an overall positive effect on intestinal phlogosis.