Immunohistochemical Findings in Idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Nine Cats

María Cecilia Ricart,Nélida Virginia Gómez,Víctor Castillo,Silvia Feijóo,Giacomo Rossi,Matteo Cerquetella

doi:10.1155/2020/6209185

María Cecilia Ricart, Nélida Virginia Gómez + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6209185

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Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease is a term referring to a clinical condition characterized by recurrent/persistent gastrointestinal signs, which cannot be diagnosed only through histological findings, being an elimination diagnosis and needing therefore the previous exclusion of all other possible causes of gastrointestinal signs. The aim of the present study was to compare the expression of different cytokines on endoscopic biopsy samples of the small and large intestine of cats suffering from inflammatory bowel disease and healthy controls, by immunohistochemistry evaluation. Nine cats referred for chronic gastrointestinal signs to the Gastroenterology Service, Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, were included. After being administered with antiparasitic drugs and after running complete laboratory exams, abdominal ultrasonography, etc., upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy samplings for histopathology and immunohistochemistry was then performed. Controls were represented by archived samples from healthy cats (University of Camerino, Italy, Veterinary Pathology Unit Archive). On biopsy samples, the immunohistochemistry expression of the following antibodies was evaluated: TGF-β, CD3+, FoxP3+, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12, and Th-17+. Statistic analysis was performed with the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test and with Spearman test, considering significant p < 0.05 . TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12, and CD3+ were significantly differently expressed between cats suffering from inflammatory bowel disease and controls, while no differences were found regarding TGF-β, IL-10, and FOXP3. A positive correlation was also found between proinflammatory cytokines and proinflammatory cytokines plus lymphocytes that were at the same time related to IL-10 and TGF-β. On the other hand, a negative correlation was found between proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines. Our results suggest an imbalance in the immune response which may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of feline inflammatory bowel disease.

Highlights

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term referred in both dogs and cats to a clinical condition characterized by persistent or recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) signs, chronic evolution (3-4 weeks), and histologic evidence of inflammation without any answer to empirical treatments, such as diet changes, or evidence of any other possible known cause [1,2,3,4,5]
The aim of the present study was to compare, by immunohistochemistry (IHC) evaluation, the expression of different cytokines on endoscopic biopsy samples of the small and large intestine of cats diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy controls, looking for possible markers for monitoring IBD
Considering clinical history, results of the complete work-up, histopathology, and response to anti-inflammatory treatment, nine cats were included in the study

Summary

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term referred in both dogs and cats to a clinical condition characterized by persistent or recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) signs (e.g., vomiting and diarrhea), chronic evolution (3-4 weeks), and histologic evidence of inflammation without any answer to empirical treatments, such as diet changes, or evidence of any other possible known cause [1,2,3,4,5]. There are no reliable data about its prevalence, due to the difficulty of achieving a definitive diagnosis, it is considered a frequent condition in both dogs and cats [2]. The diagnosis of IBD still remain a difficult achievement and the diagnostic path has been an object of interest worldwide in the last decades [2, 5].

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