Diet affects skin gene expression in healthy and atopic dogs

Researchers from the University of Helsinki, Finland looked at 48 Staffordshire Bull Terriers, of which eight dogs, four healthy and four atopic, were selected for RNA sequencing where their skin gene expression was compared between dogs. atopic and healthy, as well as between dogs who ate dry food or raw food. Diet seems to make a big difference in skin gene expression.

“Prior to the dietary intervention comparing atopic and healthy dogs, only a total of eight genes were found that worked in a number of ways in the skin, but the intervention increased this multiple figure. In other words, the dietary intervention is extremely important for the actual gene expression differences to emerge, “says researcher Johanna Anturaniemi of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki.

The effect of the diet on skin gene expression was mainly associated with the immune system, antioxidants and inflammatory processes. Raw food appeared to activate the skin’s immune system and the expression of genes that increase antioxidant production or have anti-inflammatory effects.

“A previous study also showed that raw meat diets generate an anti-inflammatory effect on blood gene expression,” says Anturaniemi.

As for the litter, the researchers consider it particularly important that the immune defense of dogs whose diet is based on raw food is activated. What is known is that in people suffering from atopic dermatitis, the development of immunity has been disturbed and that diversified exposure to microbes during childhood reduces the risk of becoming atopic.

Differences in skin gene expression between atopic and healthy dogs highlighted the possibility of deficiencies in lipid metabolism and keratinocyte proliferation of atopic individuals. Both play a key role in the normal functioning of the skin barrier. Furthermore, the expression of genes that stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, a phenomenon known to be associated with the inflammatory response of the skin, was observed to be increased in atopic dogs. The results support those achieved in previous studies.

“We have identified several genes whose link to canine atopic dermatitis had not previously been reported. Some of them are associated with previously known disturbed metabolic pathways, while the role of others in atopic dermatitis requires further investigation. in the study it was small, the results can be considered preliminary. In fact, the goal is to confirm them later using the rest of the skin samples collected, “says Anturaniemi.