Characterisation of the serum cytokine profile in feline atopic skin syndrome

• Published in: Veterinary dermatology 2021-10, Vol.32 (5), p.485-e133
• Main Authors: Vargo, Cheryl, Gogal, Robert, Barber, James, Austel, Michaela, Banovic, Frane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergens; Animals; Atopy; Cat Diseases; Cats; Chemokines; Chemotaxis; CXCL12 protein; Cytokines; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Atopic - veterinary; FLT3L protein; Growth factors; Hypersensitivity - veterinary; Immune response; Ligands; Lymphocytes T; Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1; Patients; Pets; Protein-tyrosine kinase; Serum levels; Skin; Skin diseases; Stem cell factor; Stem cells; Therapeutic applications; γ-Interferon
• ISSN: 0959-4493; 1365-3164
• DOI: 10.1111/vde.12994

Background Feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS) is a pruritic and inflammatory skin disease commonly encountered in cats. Three previous reports evaluated cytokine immune activation in cats diagnosed with feline allergic dermatitis. However, no significant upregulations were observed in allergic cats compared to healthy controls. Hypothesis/Objective To evaluate differences in the serum cytokine profile of cats diagnosed with FASS compared to healthy cats, and correlate serum markers with the extent of FASS skin disease using clinical scoring systems. Animals Thirteen client‐owned FASS cats and 12 healthy control cats. Methods and materials Thirteen cytokine and chemokines from the serum of FASS cats and healthy controls were analysed using a commercially available feline‐specific multiplex assay. Results Patients with FASS had a significant increase in serum concentrations of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐13 and IL‐18. In addition, cytokine/chemokines involved in inflammation and chemotaxis [IL‐8, C‐C Motif Chemokine Ligand (CCL)5, CCL2 and CXCL12], as well as growth factors, stem cell factor and Fms‐related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L), also were significantly elevated. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.64) between the serum levels of Flt3L and Scoring Feline Allergic Dermatitis (SCORFAD) score was observed. Conclusions These results demonstrate the activation of a broad array of immune secretory cytokines in the serum of cats with FASS, which are largely associated with a mixed Th1 and Th2 inflammatory response along with specific growth factors. Further larger‐sample studies are needed to assess the modulation of serum biomarkers in FASS by pharmacological/therapeutic interventions. Résumé Contexte Le syndrome atopique cutané félin (FASS) est une dermatose inflammatoire et prurigineuse fréquente du chat. Trois articles précédents ont évalué l'activation des cytokines immunitaires chez les chats avec dermatite allergique féline. Cependant, aucune augmentation significative n'a été observée chez les chats allergiques comparés aux contrôles sains. Hypothèses/Objectifs Evaluer les différences de profils cytokiniques des chats diagnostiqués avec FASS comparé aux chats sains et corréler les marqueurs sériques selon la gravité de FASS à l'aide de système de notation clinique. Sujets Treize chats FASS de propriétaires et 12 chats sains contrôles. Matériels et méthodes Treize cytokines et chimiokines du serum de chats FASS et de cha