Measurement of IL‐12 (p40, p35), IL‐23p19, and IFN‐γ mRNA in Duodenal Biopsies of Cats with Inflammatory Enteropathy

Abstract

BackgroundDietary hypersensitivity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are important causes of chronic vomiting and diarrhea in cats. IL‐23 has been recently found to be a key factor in the immunopathogenesis of IBD in humans but the involvement in IBD has not been investigated in cats.Hypothesis/ObjectivesExpression of genes encoding Il‐12p35 and p40, IL‐23p19, and IFN‐γ may be up‐regulated in duodenal biopsy specimens taken from cats with histologic evidence of inflammation.Animals and MethodsDuodenal biopsy specimens were collected from control cats (n = 21) and cats with inflammatory enteropathy (n = 13). Routine histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and qRT‐PCR were used to assess expression of MHC class II and to measure gene transcripts encoding the p35, p40, and p19 subunits of the IL‐12 family of cytokines and IFN‐γ.ResultsThere were significant differences in expression of mRNA encoding IL‐12p35 and IL‐23p19 between healthy cats and cats with inflammatory enteropathy. IL‐12p35 mRNA was lower in the duodenal mucosa of cats with inflammatory enteropathy compared with the mucosa of healthy cats (P = .001). In contrast, IL‐23p19 mRNA expression was higher in duodenal biopsy specimens from cats with inflammatory enteropathy than in those from healthy controls (P = .001). There was no difference in expression of IL‐12p40 and IFN‐γ mRNA (P > .05). The majority of cats with inflammatory enteropathy had histologic evidence of moderate to severe colitis (score 2).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe results of this preliminary study suggest that IL‐23 plays a role in the pathogenesis of feline inflammatory enteropathy.

Chronic Kidney Disease in Aged Cats

“…People with inflammatory bowel disease may exhibit tubular dysfunction 79 and tubulointerstitial nephritis. 4,137 Feline inflammatory bowel disease, 107,189,194 particularly long-standing, might be expected to enhance the systemic inflammatory burden and permit access to the kidney for molecules normally retained in the intestinal tract. Either of these changes could contribute to renal injury.…”

Association of IL12A Expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis in a Chinese Han Population

“… 38 The p35 subunit was also detected to be substantially lower in the duodenal mucosa of cats with inflammatory enteropathy compared with that in the mucosa of healthy cats ( P = 0.001). 39 These findings suggest that lower expression of IL12A is correlated with autoimmune diseases. To better understand the involvement of IL12A in PBC pathogenesis, a cis-eQTL analysis was performed using publically accessible genotype and gene expression data.…”

Translating Human and Animal Model Studies to Dogs’ and Cats’ Veterinary Care: Beta-Glucans Application for Skin Disease, Osteoarthritis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management

“…Only a few studies in dogs and cats have evaluated the Th17 subset and did not find evidence for the involvement of Th17 signature cytokines in canine or feline inflammatory bowel disease [ 67 , 68 , 69 ]. The appointed differences are the main explanation why the disease behaves differently in humans versus dogs and cats, meaning overall more severe in humans and less severe in dogs and cats.…”