Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Immune cell types in dogs with immune blood diseases
By Blois, Shauna L et al.·Published in PloS one·2025·Department of Clinical Studies, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lymphocyte immunophenotype in dogs with immune-mediated hematologic disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs diagnosed with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) or immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) showed changes in their immune system that could explain their conditions. These dogs had fewer regulatory T cells, which help control immune responses, and more lymphocytes producing a substance called IL-17, which can promote inflammation. The study monitored these immune changes at the start of treatment and found that the dogs had significant alterations compared to healthy dogs. Understanding these immune changes may help veterinarians better manage and treat dogs with these serious blood disorders.
People also search for: dog immune-mediated hemolytic anemia treatment · dog ITP symptoms · immune system problems in dogs
Abstract
Immune-mediated hematologic diseases (IMHD) including immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) can cause severe disease in dogs. The underlying immune system abnormalities associated with these conditions is not known. The hypotheses of this study were that dogs with IMHD would have increased frequencies of CD4+ and CD8 + lymphocytes, decreased frequencies and numbers of T regulatory cells, and increased frequencies of interleukin (IL)-17 + lymphocytes. Fifteen dogs with newly diagnosed IMHA or ITP and 15 healthy control dogs were recruited for this prospective study. Flow cytometry was used to enumerate CD4 + lymphocytes, CD8 + lymphocytes, T regulatory (CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3+) cells, and lymphocytes secreting IL-17 in dogs with IMHD at diagnosis, then 2 and 4 days after starting immunosuppressive treatment. Median proportion of CD4+ (Day 0: 3.4%, Day 2: 3.3%) and CD8+ (Day 0: 1%, Day 2: 0.6%) cells was lower in dogs with IMHD compared to control dogs (CD4 + 22.8%, CD8 + : 13.6%; P < 0.0001 for each). Additionally, T regulatory cells were reduced in IMHD dogs at Day 0 (0.2% versus 0.6% of total lymphocytes, P = 0.0025). Dogs with IMHD had a higher proportion of lymphocytes positive for IL-17 at Day 2 (1.3%) compared to control dogs (0.4%, P = 0.0024). Dogs with IMHD have immune system alterations at diagnosis and during early treatment characterized by a deficiency in T regulatory cells and an increase in IL-17 + lymphocyte. These changes might contribute to the pathogenesis of IMHA and ITP.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40526723/