Evaluation of autoantibodies to desmoglein-2 in dogs with and without cardiac disease

Abstract

Autoantibodies to desmoglein-2 have been associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in people. ARVC is a common disease in the Boxer dog. The role of anti-desmoglein-2 antibodies in Boxers with ARVC and correlation with disease status or severity is unknown. This prospective study is the first to evaluate dogs of various breeds and cardiac disease state for anti-desmoglein-2 antibodies. The sera of 46 dogs (10 ARVC Boxers, 9 healthy Boxers, 10 Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy, 10 dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease, and 7 healthy non-Boxer dogs) were assessed for antibody presence and concentration via Western blotting and densitometry. Anti-desmoglein-2 antibodies were detected in all dogs. Autoantibody expression did not differ between study groups and there was no correlation with age or body weight. In dogs with cardiac disease, there was weak correlation with left ventricular dilation (r = 0.423, p = 0.020) but not left atrial size (r = 0.160, p = 0.407). In ARVC Boxers there was strong correlation with the complexity of ventricular arrhythmias (r = 0.841, p = 0.007) but not total number of ectopic beats (r = 0.383, p = 0.313). Anti-desmoglein-2 antibodies were not disease specific in the studied population of dogs. Correlation with some measures of disease severity requires further study with larger populations.

Desmoglein-2 and COVID-19 complications: insights into its role as a biomarker, pathogenesis and clinical implications

“…Anti-DSG2 are autoantibodies secreted against DSG2 and their main role is to interfere with cell-cell adhesion via the interruption of DSG2 protein function [67]. These autoantibodies have been implicated in a few diseases including familial DCM and ARVC [12,66,106]. In contrast, DSG2 autoantibodies have been reported not to contribute to the pathogenesis of pemphigus, unlike autoantibodies against DSG1 and DSG3 [107].…”