Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lipid Dysmetabolism in Canine Chronic Liver Disease: Relationship Between Clinical, Histological and Immunohistochemical Features
- Journal:
- Veterinary Sciences
- Year:
- 2025
- Authors:
- Verena Habermaass et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via Livornese Lato Monte, 56122 Pisa, Italy · CH
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Chronic liver disease in dogs is a serious condition that can worsen over time and lead to liver failure. This study looked at 16 dogs with chronic liver disease to understand how fat buildup in the liver relates to inflammation and scarring. Researchers found that the presence of fat in the liver was linked to signs of inflammation, suggesting that fat might contribute to the worsening of liver disease. The study also indicated that metabolic issues, like those seen in humans with similar liver problems, could be involved in canine liver disease. Overall, the findings suggest that certain tests could help veterinarians better diagnose and treat these liver conditions, but more research is needed to fully understand the connections.
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in dogs are progressive conditions that often lead to liver failure. Metabolic dysfunctions such as cholestasis, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and endocrine disorders play a key role in human liver diseases like MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) and MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatohepatitis), but their significance in canine CLDs is poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the association between hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation or fibrosis in canine CLDs and its potential association with metabolic dysfunctions. Sixteen client-owned dogs with CLDs were assessed for clinical data, histological features, and liver immunohistochemistry (IHC). Histological and IHC markers of inflammation (Iba-1, iNOS, NF-κB), fibrosis (CD206, α-SMA, Sirius Red), and lipid accumulation (adipophilin) were assessed to identify correlations with clinical conditions. The applied markers showed effectiveness in their use on canine liver tissue. Adipophilin-marked lipid accumulation correlated positively with inflammatory markers, indicating a link between steatosis and inflammation. Metabolic dysfunctions were linked to hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation. These findings show a potential alignment of canine CLDs with human MASLD/MASH, where lipid-induced inflammation drives disease progression. IHC markers could effectively assess these processes, suggesting potential for guiding diagnostics and therapies, though further research is needed to clarify clinical associations.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12030220