CIRCULATING REGULATORY T CELLS (Treg), LEPTIN AND INDUCTION OF PROINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY IN OBESE LABRADOR RETRIEVER DOGS

Publication date: Available online 7 July 2018Source: Veterinary Immunology and ImmunopathologyAuthor(s): Anna Teresa Palatucci, Diego Piantedosi, Valentina Rubino, Angela Giovazzino, Jacopo Guccione, Vlenia Pernice, Giuseppina Ruggiero, Laura Cortese, Giuseppe TerrazzanoAbstractOver-nutrition and obesity have been associated with impaired immunity and low-grade inflammation in humans and mouse models. In this context, a causal role for unbalanced T regulatory cell (Treg)-dependent mechanisms has been largely suggested.Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in dogs. However, it is not defined whether canine obesity may influence circulating Treg as well as if their number variation might be associated with the occurrence of systemic inflammation.The present study investigated the immune profile of healthy adult obese dogs belonging to the Labrador Retriever breed, in comparison with the normal weight counterpart. Indeed, obesity has been described as particularly evident in this dogs. With this purpose, 26 healthy dogs were enrolled and divided into two groups based on body condition score (BCS): controls (CTR: BCS 4–5) and obeses (OB: BCS ≥ 7).Our data indicate that adult obese Labrador Retrievers are characterised by the inverse correlation between leptin serum concentration and circulating Treg (CD4+CD25highFoxp3+) levels. In addition, an increased number of cytotoxic T cell effectors (CD3+CD8+) and a higher IFN-γ production by cytotoxic T lymphocytes w...
Source: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research