Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Serum IL-34 levels linked to itch and severity in dogs with atopic
By Gow, Deborah J et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2020·R(D)SVS and The Roslin Institute, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Measurement of serum Interleukin 34 (IL-34) and correlation with severity and pruritus scores in client-owned dogs with atopic dermatitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 47 dogs with atopic dermatitis (a common skin allergy) had higher levels of a protein called Interleukin 34 (IL-34) in their blood compared to 25 healthy dogs. The study found that the more severe the skin lesions and itching (pruritus) the dogs experienced, the higher the IL-34 levels were. Even dogs receiving treatments like steroids or a specific medication called oclacitinib still showed increased IL-34 levels. This suggests that IL-34 could be a potential target for new treatments for dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease of dogs. Interleukin (IL)-34 is a monocyte/macrophage growth factor, produced mainly by keratinocytes, that has been implicated in several human inflammatory conditions including human AD. HYPOTHESIS: Canine serum IL-34 concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and correlate with clinical lesion and pruritus scores. ANIMALS: Forty seven client-owned dogs diagnosed with AD and 25 healthy, unaffected control dogs. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A commercially available IL-34 ELISA was optimized for the measurement of IL-34 in canine serum samples. Information regarding treatment, clinical lesion scores [Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th iteration (CADESI-04)] and pruritus Visual Analog Score (pVAS) were recorded for each dog at the time of serum collection. RESULTS: Dogs with AD had significantly increased serum IL-34 concentrations compared to controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IL-34 concentrations and CADESI-04 and pVAS scores. Concentrations of IL-34 remained increased in dogs with AD receiving steroids or the JAK1 inhibitor, oclacitinib, compared to unaffected control dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Serum IL-34 concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and are correlated with clinical severity and pruritus. IL-34 may be a suitable candidate therapeutic target for canine AD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32794277/