The dog as a genetic model for immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency: identification of several breeds with low serum IgA concentrations

Mia Olsson; Marcel Frankowiack; Katarina Tengvall; Petra Roosje; Tove Fall; Emma Ivansson; Kerstin Bergvall; Helene Hansson-Hamlin; Katarina Sundberg; Ake Hedhammar; Kerstin Lindblad-Toh; Lennart Hammarström

doi:10.1016/j.vetimm.2014.05.010

The dog as a genetic model for immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency: identification of several breeds with low serum IgA concentrations

Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2014 Aug 15;160(3-4):255-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2014.05.010. Epub 2014 May 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Clinical Immunology (F79), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden; Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Mia.Olsson@ki.se.
² Division of Clinical Immunology (F79), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden.
³ Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, PO-Box 8466, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 14B, SE-75237 Uppsala, Sweden.
⁶ Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
⁷ Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
⁸ Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Box 582, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
⁹ Division of Clinical Immunology (F79), Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Huddinge, Sweden. Electronic address: Lennart.Hammarstrom@ki.se.

PMID: 24935667
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2014.05.010

Abstract

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) serves as the basis of the secretory immune system by protecting the lining of mucosal sites from pathogens. In both humans and dogs, IgA deficiency (IgAD) is associated with recurrent infections of mucosal sites and immune-mediated diseases. Low concentrations of serum IgA have previously been reported to occur in a number of dog breeds but no generally accepted cut-off value has been established for canine IgAD. The current study represents the largest screening to date of IgA in dogs in terms of both number of dogs (n=1267) and number of breeds studied (n=22). Serum IgA concentrations were quantified by using capture ELISA and were found to vary widely between breeds. We also found IgA to be positively correlated with age (p<0.0001). Apart from the two breeds previously reported as predisposed to low IgA (Shar-Pei and German shepherd), we identified six additional breeds in which ≥ 10% of all tested dogs had very low (<0.07 g/l) IgA concentrations (Hovawart, Norwegian elkhound, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, Bullterrier, Golden retriever and Labrador retriever). In addition, we discovered low IgA concentrations to be significantly associated with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD, p<0.0001) and pancreatic acinar atrophy (PAA, p=0.04) in German shepherds.

Keywords: Dog; German shepherd; Immunodeficiency; Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Dog Diseases / genetics*
Dog Diseases / immunology*
Dogs / classification
Dogs / genetics*
Dogs / immunology*
Female
Humans
IgA Deficiency / genetics
IgA Deficiency / immunology
IgA Deficiency / veterinary*
Immunoglobulin A / blood*
Male
Models, Genetic
Reference Values
Species Specificity

Substances

Immunoglobulin A