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Discoveries Issue 35 • Winter 2011

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Discoveries Issue 35 • Winter 2011 Discoveries Issue 35 • Winter 2011 MISSION THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE The Foundation is dedicated to Major Histocompatibility Complex and Test Developed for Determining Risk advancing the health of all dogs Autoimmune Disease in Dogs ...............2 of Pug Dog Encephalitis ..................... 9 and their owners by funding sound Why Are Purebred Dogs So Important Planned Giving Spotlight .................. 10 scientific research and supporting to Health Research? .......................... 4 Goodbye to Betty J. Moore ................. 10 the dissemination of health Focus on Research ............................ 6 Champions of Health: Dr. Bill & information to prevent, treat, Helping Future Generations .................7 Tina Truesdale ................................. 11 and cure canine disease. U P O D E A C TE E Update From the AKC Canine Health Foundation FROM TH CEO, Terry T. Warren, PhD, J.D. Happy New Year! Yes, it is an exciting between prevention and treatment to All this excitement of success and 2011 start of the new year for the help us find cures for canine disease. advancement is because of each AKC Canine Health Foundation. On one of you. We thank all of you for December 2, 2010, the AKCCHF Board The Foundation is excited to present your continual support. Without the of Directors voted to adopt a new its newly designed Website which has generosity of our corporate alliances mission statement for the Foundation officially launched. Please visit us at the American Kennel Club, Nestlé as follows: “The Foundation is dedicated www.akcchf.org to explore the new Purina PetCare Company, Pfizer Animal to advancing the health of all dogs Celebration Wall, which is a special Health, and the Parent Clubs, the All and their owners by funding sound photo gallery to memorialize canine Breed Clubs, the Specialty Clubs and scientific research and supporting the friends, to read the homepage Success each individual donor, we could not be dissemination of health information to Stories, and to search the new Canine celebrating fifteen years of supporting prevent, treat, and cure canine disease.” Health section that provides health canine health research in the amount This new statement reflects our tips and disease information. Give us of 25 million dollars. Thank you. diversity in funding research and the feedback and let us know how you Together, we look forward to a very translational value of canine research like the new look, the ease of finding successful and productive 2011, wishing to humans. The 17 funded research research data and general canine you all a very Happy New Year! projects for 2011 (see page 6 for details), health information. distributes our funding dollars equally AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION © Copyright 2011 AKC Canine Health Foundation. All rights reserved. H EDUCA LT T A IO E N AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION H Major Histocompatibility Complex and Autoimmune Disease in Dogs The Major Histocompatibility Complex When a virus gets into the body, it (MHC) can best be described as the hijacks the reproductive system of “factory floor” of the immune system. the cells it invades, forcing it to make The MHC is an area of the human, duplicates of itself, and in effect and canine genome, which has been changes the protein signature of the identified to code for the creation of cell. This is how the immune system proteins that the immune system uses can identify cells, which have been to distinguish between foreign and infected by viruses, and attack them to non-foreign bodies. All cells within try to stop the spread of the infection. the body are “tagged,” if you will, with “self” proteins produced by the MHC. In humans it is the MHC that leads to Basically the way that both the human rejection problems in organ transplant and canine immune system functions surgeries, and why transfusion of is that the T-cells of the immune the “wrong” blood type can be fatal. system interact with the protein coat Recently, protocols for both kidney of any material they encounter in the and liver transplants in dogs have been body—it is the MHC that gives the developed. As such procedures gain body’s own cells the “secret password” more widespread acceptability among that tells the T-cells this is a friend, not practitioners- deeper understanding of a foe to be destroyed. the functionality of the MHC in tissue rejection will need to be explored and These “friend or foe” protein markers anti-rejection treatments expanded, as are also called antigens. In humans, they have in humans. However, just as they are known as human leukocyte it is in humans, the most significant antigens (HLA) and in canines, dog aspect of the Major Histocompatibility leukocyte antigens (DLA). Complex to your dog’s health is Recent studies have shown that the role the MHC plays in so-called the MHC may form the scientific “Autoimmunity” literally means autoimmune diseases. basis for the continuing “immunity against self.” anecdotal reports of dogs with The symptoms of autoimmune What is an Autoimmune Disease? the ability to “sniff out” cancer disease are caused by the body An autoimmune disease is basically in humans. The olfactory ability a condition where something “goes mounting an immune response of dogs is well documented. haywire” with those codes produced by to antigens that would normally the MHC, and the body starts treating be recognized as “self.” “friends” as “foes”—and basically turns as in humans, have a genetic basis. It is on itself. believed that there is genetic variance When the T-cell encounters a material in the MHC that causes the individual and determines that the antigen does “Autoimmunity” literally means or dog to be more susceptible to an not belong there —it will take steps “immunity against self.” The symptoms autoimmune reaction, and that various to attack and kill the cells that are of autoimmune disease are caused environmental factors from viruses, surrounded by the foreign protein. by the body mounting an immune bacteria, and allergens, to toxins can This is how the immune system kills response to antigens that would set off that susceptibility. Veterinarians bacteria and other microorganisms, normally be recognized as “self.” Most which get into your dog’s body. autoimmune diseases in dogs, as well (continued on page 3) 2 • WINTER 2011 Discoveries H EDUCA LT T A IO AKC CANINE HEALTH FOUNDATION E N H MAjOR Histocompatibility COMPLEx AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE IN DOGS continued from page 2 identify four major factors relevant to Because it is known that autoimmune is well documented. Dogs can identify causes of autoimmune disease in dogs, diseases are linked to genetic chemicals diluted to parts per trillion • Genetic predisposition predispositions in the MHC—this is in solutions. There have long been • Hormonal influence yet another reason why potential dog reports of dogs alerting owners to the • Viral Infections owners of purebred dogs should only presence of melanomas by constantly • Stress deal with respected and reputable sniffing at a skin lesion. There have breeders who are aware of, and employ been several clinical studies published In dogs that may be predisposed breeding practices designed to limit in respected medical journals that to autoimmune reactions, common genetic disorders. have tested and confirmed the ability vaccines for canine disease such of dogs to detect melanomas, bladder, as distemper and parvo have been The thyroid gland plays a key role breast, and lung cancers. Now, a recent known to trigger the response. in the immune system, and thyroid study published in the journal Medical disease is one of the most common Hypotheses, indicates that anomalies Common Canine autoimmune diseases in dogs. Since in the MHC of the humans presenting proper thyroid function is critical to with those cancers may be the Autoimmune a healthy immune system, if the dog mechanism for these dogs’ remarkable is susceptible to thyroid disease, by diagnostic abilities. Diseases inference it is also likely susceptible As stated, Lymphocytic thyroiditis, is the to other autoimmune disorders. This It is known that human body odor is most common MHC related autoimmune is why genetic screening for thyroid determined by the human leukocyte disease in dogs, and as such actually serves disease can be used in healthy animals antigens (HLA) that are produced by as a marker for susceptibility to a myriad to determine their fitness for breeding. the Major Histocompatibility Complex. of other autoimmune diseases. Some of The study concluded that “the volatile these are: The animal’s blood is tested for the organic compounds produced by • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) presence of antithyroid autoantibodies. tumors, and detected by dogs, are • Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia Any dog that has such antibodies products of MHC genes. These HLA (IMTP or ITP) circulating in the bloodstream, molecules in humans have “soluble could potentially develop thyroid and detectable isoforms that are • Autoimmune thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) disease, and/or be vulnerable present in body fluids such as blood, • Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease) to other autoimmune diseases urine and sweat, and there is a strong • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) because his or her immune system association between changes in HLA is compromised. Responsible dog and cancers.” • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) breeders use thyroid prescreening • Myasthenia gravis as a very important tool for selecting (For an electronic copy of this article, good breeding stock. please contact Erika Werne, MIM, CFRE, Director of Education & Certain regularly used canine drugs Other MHC Functions Communications for the AKC Canine have also been associated with It would be remiss in an article about Health Foundation, [email protected] aggravating immune response the MHC and canines not to mention or 888.682.9696.) blood disorders, such as the newer this interesting sidebar. Recent combination of monthly heartworm studies have shown that the MHC preventives.
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