Measurement of serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and correlation with severity and pruritus scores in client owned dogs with atopic dermatitis

Abstract

Background -Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease of dogs. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) initiates pro-inflammatory cytokine release in human AD and serum concentrations are correlated with disease severity.Hypothesis -Canine serum MIF concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and correlate with clinical lesion and pruritus scores.Animals -Client owned dogs (n = 49) diagnosed with AD and 17 healthy, unaffected control dogs were used for the study.Methods and materials -A commercially available MIF ELISA was optimized for the dog and serum from clinical cases used. Information regarding treatment, Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, (CADESI-4) and pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS) were recorded for each dog at the time of serum collection.Results -Dogs with AD which had not received steroid therapy and those treated with oclacitinib had significantly elevated serum MIF concentrations compared to controls. Concentrations of MIF were not significantly different in AD dogs receiving steroids compared to controls. There was no significant correlation between MIF concentrations and clinical scores (CADESI-4 or pVAS).Conclusions and clinical importance -Serum MIF concentrations are increased in dogs with AD and MIF might be a target for therapy.

Serum canine thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) concentrations correlate with disease severity and therapeutic responses in dogs with atopic dermatitis

“…2 Furthermore, the lesional severity scores of dogs with cAD did not correlate with the serum concentrations of other cytokines, including IL-17, IL-31 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor. 39 Therefore, serum TARC concentrations appear to be a more accurate marker than previously studied biomarkers and correspond well with the lesional severity of cAD.…”

“…In studies on cAD, although total IgE concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with cAD than in healthy controls, they did not correlate with clinical severity according to the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index 2 . Furthermore, the lesional severity scores of dogs with cAD did not correlate with the serum concentrations of other cytokines, including IL‐17, IL‐31 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor 39 . Therefore, serum TARC concentrations appear to be a more accurate marker than previously studied biomarkers and correspond well with the lesional severity of cAD.…”

Advances in our understanding of canine atopic dermatitis

“…It has been shown to play a role in human AD 64,65 . MIF levels were found to be increased in atopic dogs, apparently not correlated with clinical scores nor pruritus, and thus the clinical relevance of these findings is unknown 66 …”

“…64,65 MIF levels were found to be increased in atopic dogs, apparently not correlated with clinical scores nor pruritus, and thus the clinical relevance of these findings is unknown. 66 Another recent study evaluating potentially useful peripheral markers showed decrease expression of micro-RNA gene markers (PIAS1, RORA and SH2B1) and an increased expression of the phosphodiesterase 4D gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in addition to differential expression of cytokines in dogs with AD in comparison to healthy controls. 67 Again, the clinical relevance of these findings needs to be further evaluated to see how relevant these changes are for AD and how much they simply reflect a state of inflammation.…”

The role of cytokines in atopic dermatitis: a breakthrough in immunopathogenesis and treatment

“…Consistently, lacrimal fluids collected from patients with severe AD contain a significantly greater concentration of this cytokine in comparison to those with a milder disease (304). This factor is also elevated in animals with AD (305). When neutralized, experimental AD is ameliorated (306).…”