Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gene changes in Labrador retrievers with copper-related
By Dirksen, Karen et al.·Published in PloS one·2017·Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Gene expression patterns in the progression of canine copper-associated chronic hepatitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Labrador retrievers with copper-associated chronic hepatitis showed various symptoms related to liver problems, such as lethargy and poor appetite. Researchers studied liver tissue from dogs at different stages of the disease to understand how copper buildup affects the liver. They found that early on, the liver responds to increased copper levels by activating certain pathways related to inflammation and cell structure. As the disease progresses to a chronic stage, changes in cell adhesion and structure become more pronounced. Understanding these changes could help improve treatment options for both dogs and humans with similar liver issues.
People also search for: Labrador retriever liver disease symptoms · copper toxicity in dogs · chronic hepatitis treatment in dogs
Abstract
Copper is an essential trace element, but can become toxic when present in abundance. The severe effects of copper-metabolism imbalance are illustrated by the inherited disorders Wilson disease and Menkes disease. The Labrador retriever dog breed is a novel non-rodent model for copper-storage disorders carrying mutations in genes known to be involved in copper transport. Besides disease initiation and progression of copper accumulation, the molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in progression towards copper-associated chronic hepatitis still remain unclear. Using expression levels of targeted candidate genes as well as transcriptome micro-arrays in liver tissue of Labrador retrievers in different stages of copper-associated hepatitis, pathways involved in progression of the disease were studied. At the initial phase of increased hepatic copper levels, transcriptomic alterations in livers mainly revealed enrichment for cell adhesion, developmental, inflammatory, and cytoskeleton pathways. Upregulation of targeted MT1A and COMMD1 mRNA shows the liver's first response to rising intrahepatic copper concentrations. In livers with copper-associated hepatitis mainly an activation of inflammatory pathways is detected. Once the hepatitis is in the chronic stage, transcriptional differences are found in cell adhesion adaptations and cytoskeleton remodelling. In view of the high similarities in copper-associated hepatopathies between men and dog extrapolation of these dog data into human biomedicine seems feasible.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28459846/