Oxidative stress in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy treated with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells

The search for new biomarkers in patients with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) is ongoing in the human and veterinary medicine fields. Oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced glutathione [GSH], and albumin) have been studied in humans with chronic enteropathies, but among them, only albumin has been studied in dogs with CIE. Moreover, the effect of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) treatment with or without prednisone on these parameters has never been studied in dogs with CIE. These parameters were compared between healthy dogs (n = 12) and dogs with CIE, and before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment with MSCs alone (n = 9) or together with prednisone (n = 11). The relationship between the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) and oxidative stress was evaluated. Albumin was the only parameter that significantly differed between dogs with CIE and healthy dogs (p = 0,037). Differences were observed only in albumin values after combined treatment with MSCs and prednisone. No differences were observed in MDA and GSH after treatment with MSCs with or without prednisone. Albumin could help stage canine CIE, as well as its prognosis, as has already been demonstrated, although it is essential to evaluate this parameter for its antioxidant capacity, and therefore it could be a good biomarker of oxidative stress in this pathology. However, the treatment with MSCs seems unable to modify any of the analyzed oxidative stress parameters.