Abstract
BackgroundThe etiology of canine chronic bronchitis (CB) is not completely understood, although exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affects the airway inflammatory responses in some dogs with CB. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.FindingsWe investigated the concentrations and methylation rates of free-floating DNA fragments in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from dogs with chronic bronchitis. Based on serum cotinine levels, dogs with CB were divided into 2 groups: dogs that either had or had not been exposed to ETS. Our results demonstrated that the total nucleated cell and macrophage numbers increased in BALF of ETS-exposed dogs with CB. There were no significant differences in DNA concentrations and methylation rates in BALF between the 2 groups. However, 3 out of 8 dogs exposed to ETS had high DNA methylation rates in their BALF samples.ConclusionOur results suggest that ETS exposure leads to epigenetic modifications of cellular components in BALF in dogs diagnosed with CB.
Highlights
The etiology of canine chronic bronchitis (CB) is not completely understood, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affects the airway inflammatory responses in some dogs with CB
Our results suggest that ETS exposure leads to epigenetic modifications of cellular components in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in dogs diagnosed with CB
Based on serum cotinine levels, 19 dogs with CB were divided into 2 groups: dogs who either had or had not been exposed to ETS
Summary
Nineteen dogs (4–12 years; 11 males and 8 females) diagnosed with CB were included in this study. Between April 2005 and March 2010, these dogs had been referred to the Animal Medical Center of Nihon University for diagnoses and consultations for long-term therapy for their clinical signs. CB was diagnosed based on normal ranges of blood test results, thickened bronchial walls on chest X-ray and computed tomography, mucosal secretions, and patterned indented surface in bronchoscopy. Total nucleated cell counts were determined and the results were used, provided the dogs did not present with other nasal, throat, cardiac, infectious and neoplastic diseases. All examinations were performed after informed consent of the dogs’ owners under the guideline for the care and use of laboratory animals by The College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University
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