Cytokine mRNA expression in synovial fluid of affected and contralateral stifle joints and the left shoulder joint in dogs with unilateral disease of the stifle joint.
OBJECTIVE
To examine mRNA expression of cytokines in synovial fluid (SF) cells from dogs with cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture and medial patellar luxation (MPL) and determine mRNA expression for 3 joints (affected stifle, unaffected contralateral stifle, and left shoulder joints) in dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture.


METHODS
29 stifle joints with CrCL rupture (29 dogs), 8 stifle joints with MPL (7 dogs), and 24 normal stifle joints (16 clinically normal dogs).


METHODS
Immediately before reconstructive surgery, SF was aspirated from the cruciate-deficient stifle joint or stifle joint with MPL. Fourteen of 29 dogs had unilateral CrCL rupture; SF was also aspirated from the unaffected contralateral stifle joint and left shoulder joint. Those 14 dogs were examined 6 and 12 months after reconstructive surgery. Total RNA was extracted from SF cells and reverse transcription-PCR assay was performed to obtain cDNA. Canine-specific cytokine mRNA expression was determined by use of a real-time PCR assay.


RESULTS
Interleukin (IL)-8 and -10 and interferon-gamma expression differed significantly between dogs with arthropathies and dogs with normal stifle joints. For the 14 dogs with unilateral CrCL rupture, a significant difference was found for IL-8 expression. Before reconstructive surgery, IL-8 expression differed significantly between the affected stifle joint and left shoulder joint or contralateral stifle joint. Six months after surgery, IL-8 expression was significantly increased in the unaffected contralateral stifle joint, compared with the shoulder joint.


CONCLUSIONS
No conclusions can be made regarding the role of the examined cytokines in initiation of CrCL disease.
de Bruin
Tanya
T
Department of Diagnostic Imaging of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
de Rooster
Hilde
H
van Bree
Henri
H
Duchateau
Luc
L
Cox
Eric
E
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013264:Stifle / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger