Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: No study has investigated skin barrier dysfunction with systemic diseases in veterinary medicine. We investigated the mechanism of disturbed skin barrier function in dogs with internal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy controls and dogs with systemic diseases were enrolled in three different disease groups: malignant tumor, hyperadrenocorticism and kidney disease. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), serum levels of five selective pro-inflammatory cytokines and claudin-1, and complete blood count were measured. RESULTS: TEWL was significantly increased in the malignant tumor group while serum claudin-1 concentrations were significantly lower compared to controls. Tumor necrosis factor-α was also significantly increased in the cancer group. In addition, the malignant tumor group showed significantly higher monocyte chemotactic protein-1 after chemotherapy, but lower interleukin-6 levels, compared to dogs with no chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Skin barrier function was decreased in dogs with malignant tumors compared to dogs with other systemic diseases by oxidative stress and a reduction in tight junction proteins.