Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Matrix metalloproteinase activity in intestines of dogs
By Hanifeh, Mohsen et al.·Published in Acta veterinaria Scandinavica·2018·Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Identification of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 activities within the intestinal mucosa of dogs with chronic enteropathies.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with chronic intestinal issues (chronic enteropathies) showed higher levels of certain enzymes (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in their intestines compared to healthy dogs. These enzymes are involved in tissue breakdown and may play a role in the inflammation seen in these dogs. The study found that the presence of these enzymes was linked to the severity of inflammation in the intestines, but they did not directly correlate with the dogs' overall health outcomes. This suggests that while MMP-2 and MMP-9 are elevated in dogs with chronic intestinal problems, more research is needed to understand their exact role in these conditions.
People also search for: dog chronic diarrhea treatment · dog intestinal inflammation symptoms · MMP-2 MMP-9 in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 are zinc- and calcium-dependent endopeptidases involved in the breakdown and reconstitution of extracellular matrix under both physiological and pathological conditions. Mucosal MMP-2 and -9 activities have been reported to be upregulated in the intestine of humans with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and in animal models of IBD. However, their involvement in the pathogenesis of canine chronic enteropathies (CE) is unknown. This study investigated mucosal pro- and active MMP-2 and -9 activities in dogs with CE and healthy dogs using gelatin zymography, and also to determine the association of their activities in dogs with CE with the canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI), histopathologic findings, the clinical outcome, and hypoalbuminemia. Intestinal mucosal samples from duodenum, ileum, colon, and cecum were collected from 40 dogs with CE and 18 healthy Beagle dogs. RESULTS: In dogs with CE, the number of samples positive for mucosal pro- and active MMP-2 was significantly higher in the duodenum (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.011, respectively), ileum (P = 0.002 and P = 0.018, respectively), and colon (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.002, respectively), compared with healthy controls. Mucosal pro-MMP-9-positive samples in the duodenum and colon were significantly more frequent in dogs with CE than in healthy dogs (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.001, respectively). Despite the presence of mucosal samples positive for active MMP-9 in the intestinal segments of dogs with CE, the difference compared to healthy controls did not reach statistical significance. None of the intestinal mucosal samples in healthy dogs showed gelatinolytic activity corresponding to the control bands of active MMP-2 and -9. Mucosal active MMP-9 activities displayed a significant positive association with the severity of neutrophil infiltration in the duodenum (P = 00.040), eosinophils in the cecum (P = 00.037), and the CIBDAI score for ileum samples (P = 0.023). There was no significant association of pro- and active MMP-2 and -9 levels with the clinical outcome or hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate upregulation of mucosal pro- and active MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9 in the intestine of dogs with CE compared to healthy dogs. The results provide supporting evidence for the possible involvement of MMP-2 and -9 in the pathogenesis of canine CE.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29530095/