title: Expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in canine atopic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In humans, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a central role in the development of allergic inflammation, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), but it is unknown whether it is involved in the pathogenesis of canine AD (CAD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to characterize canine TSLP and to assess its expression in CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canine TSLP was identified based on sequence homology with human TSLP and the complementary DNA (cDNA) cloned by RT-PCR. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was established to assess the expression of canine TSLP in cultured canine keratinocytes and in skin biopsy specimens from lesional and nonlesional skin of 12 dogs with CAD and eight healthy control dogs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partial canine TSLP cDNA was cloned and characterized. It contained four exons that shared 70 and 73% nucleotide identity with human and equine TSLP, respectively, encoding the signal peptide and full-length secreted protein. We found significantly increased TSLP expression in lesional and nonlesional skin of dogs with CAD compared with healthy control dogs (P < 0.05), whereas no difference was measured between lesional and nonlesional samples. In cultured primary canine keratinocytes, we found increased TSLP expression after stimulation with house dust mite allergen extract or Toll-like receptor ligands lipopolysaccharide and poly I:C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased TSLP expression in the skin of dogs with CAD supports an involvement of TSLP in the pathogenesis of CAD similar to that in humans. Further studies should elucidate the function and therapeutic potential of TSLP in CAD.
authors: Department of Clinical Research-VPH, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Jolanta
authors: J
authors: Klukowska-Rötzler
authors: Ludovic
authors: L
authors: Chervet
authors: Eliane J
authors: EJ
authors: Müller
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Roosje
authors: Eliane
authors: E
authors: Marti
authors: Jozef
authors: J
authors: Janda
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin