Impact of the Epigenome in Canine Chronic Enteropathy

Presentation Description / Summary: Canine chronic enteropathies (CE) are complex, multifactorial disorders characterized by persistent gastrointestinal (GI) signs and immune-mediated intestinal inflammation. Although the etiology remains largely unknown, research suggests that genetic background, environmental factors, and alterations in the host immune system are involved in the pathogenesis, like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in humans. Epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNA expression) play important roles in the interaction between genome and the environment. Therefore, epigenetic modifications could explain how environmental perturbations (microbiome, diet, probiotics) modulate gene expression to influence chronic intestinal inflammation. Two recent studies show how acute gastroenteritis can contribute to the development of chronic GI disease in dogs later in life. The impact of the epigenome in canine CE has not been studied sufficiently and future studies can provide new insight into the pathogenesis of CE in dogs.