Sixteen healthy beagles and 12 dogs with steroid-treated (ST) and 23 dogs with food-responsive (FR) diarrhea were included in this prospective, observational study.
mRNA expression of canine TLR2, 4, and 9 was evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in duodenal and colonic biopsies obtained before and after standard therapy.
Samples from control dogs were taken at necropsy, with additional biopsies of stomach, jejunum, ileum, and mesenteric lymph node in 6 dogs.
Results: There were significant differences (P≤ .017) in expression of TLR2, 4, and 9 between the 6 sampled locations in healthy control dogs (lymph node > small intestine ≥ colon).
Before therapy, ST expressed more mRNA than control dogs for all 3 receptors (P < .05).
There were no significant differences between pretreatment and posttreatment values, even though 32/35 dogs improved clinically.
No associations were found when comparing receptor mRNA expression with either histology or clinical activity scores.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Bacteria-responsive TLR2, 4, and 9 are upregulated in duodenal and colonic mucosa in IBD.
This might lead to increased inflammation through interaction with the commensal flora.
The absence of significant changes after therapy despite clinical improvement might point toward the existence of a genetic predisposition to IBD as described in human IBD.
Source: I.A. Burgener, A. König, K. Allenspach, S.N. Sauter, J. Boisclair, M.G. Doher, T.W. Jungi (2008): Upregulation of Toll-Like Receptors in Chronic Enteropathies in Dogs. In: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Volume 22 Issue 3, Pages 553 - 560
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