title: Cytokine expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of dogs with mitral valve disease.
abstract: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure (CHF). In humans with CHF, increased production and high plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, IL-8 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) have been associated with disease progression and a negative prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether differences in cytokine blood mRNA expression exist between clinically healthy dogs and dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD); to determine if the expression was related to the severity of MMVD, and to detect any correlations with echocardiographic parameters of cardiac remodelling. Twenty-three dogs with MMVD of varying severity and six clinically healthy dogs were included in the study. Whole blood samples were obtained for measurement of mRNA expression of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β1, TNF-α by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). There were statistically significant differences between clinically healthy dogs and dogs with MMVD for IL-8 and TGF-β1 gene expression. IL-8 expression increased with increasing MMVD severity and TGF-β1 expression was higher in asymptomatic dogs with echocardiographic signs of cardiac remodelling (American College Veterinary Internal Medicine class B2) than in all other groups. These results could suggest the involvement of these cytokines at different stages of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso, Via Donatello 26, 20131 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: antonia.mvr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavropoulou
authors.affiliation: Local Health Unit, Castelnovo ne'Monti, 42035, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guazzetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borghetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Via del Taglio 10, 43126, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quintavalla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cardiology; Congestive heart failure; Cytokines; Dog; PCR