The objective of this study was to compare myocardial cytokine expression in dogs with naturally occurring cardiac or systemic diseases and dogs without cardiac or systemic diseases.

Myocardial tissue samples were taken from seven systemic disease-affected dogs (SDDs), seven cardiac disease-affected dogs (CDDs) and eight control dogs. Data suggested that the alterations in cytokine expression in SDDs and CDDs, compared with control dog findings, were a result of inflammatory system activation. The differences in cytokine expression in atria and ventricles between SDDs and CDDs were suggestive of different remodeling processes. A better knowledge of myocardial involvement in SDDs and of immune regulation in CDDs might beneficially affect morbidity and mortality rates and provide new treatment approaches.

Source:  S. Fonfara et al., 2013. Myocardial cytokine expression in dogs with systemic and naturally occurring cardiac diseases. AVJR online March 2013. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.74.3.408