Ki-67/CD3 ratio in the diagnosis of chronic inflammatory enteropathy in dogs

Abstract

Background: T cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) in dogs. Cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) antigen serves as a marker for T cells. In human medicine, Ki-67 is an indicator for cell growth but there are only a few studies in dogs with CIE. Objective: To investigate Ki-67 in relation to T cells as a marker for CIE in dogs. Animals: Eleven dogs with CIE and 6 healthy beagle controls (CO). Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Dogs were clinically assessed by the Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index (CCECAI). Duodenal mucosal biopsy samples were endoscopically obtained for histopathologic examination by means of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association score. Double-labeled immunofluorescence was used to investigate colocalization of Ki-67 and CD3 in epithelium and lamina propria (LP) of villi and crypts. Results: Dogs with CIE had significantly higher clinical score (median, 5.0; interquartile range [IQR], 3-7) compared to CO (all 0; P