Active Studies for Dermatological (Skin)

Investigating Immunologic Basis of Dermatomyositis and vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus in Collies and Shetland sheepdogs and their mixes

Introduction

Cutaneous familial dermatomyositis (DMS) in Collies and Shetland sheepdogs is a chronic immune-mediated disease that exhibits severe inflammatory lesions leading to skin scarring with disfiguration. Vesicular cutaneous lupus erythematosus (VCLE) is a unique immune-mediated variant form of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) that also predominantly affects Collies and Shetland sheepdogs. Our recent gene expression study showed that canine familial DMS skin lesions display up-regulation of type I interferon-regulated and Janus kinase (JAK)-mediated immunity genes, and that oclacitinib, a JAK inhibitor, can be safely used for treatment in many patients with variable effects. In contrast to canine familial DMS, little is known about the pathogenesis of canine VCLE-associated skin lesions in Collies and Shetland sheepdogs and no novel treatments have been evaluated.

Our objectives are to investigate the gene expression and immunologic profiles of VCLE and DMS skin lesions to elucidate the pathogenesis and produce novel therapeutic targets for these patients.

Furthermore, we wish to evaluate a novel and broader JAK inhibitor, ilunocitinib (Zenrelia, Elanco), for dogs with VCLE and DMS in a open-label, 12-week proof-of-concept study.

Our research on canine DMS is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Leigh Clark at our College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia. Dr. Clark investigates genetic predispositions for DMS and VCLE so we will collect free of charge oral swabs for DNA sequencing.

Our study covers the costs of visits and biopsy collections for all patients at the Dermatology Service at the Veterinary Medical Center, University of Georgia. If you are unable to visit us at the University of Georgia, we will work with you to have your veterinarian collect the skin biopsies, and we will analyze the histopathology samples for free; however, our study does not pay for the veterinarian’s visit, sedation, or biopsy collection.

Furthermore, we would like to evaluate whether blocking pathways with ilunocitinib, a novel and broader JAK-signaling inhibitor than oclacitinib, could modify cutaneous DMS and CLE pathogenesis in the Collie and Shetland sheepdog breeds. We can work with your veterinarian in the USA to organize medication (ilumocitinib) shipments and blood collections at no cost to you.

Please contact us (email) if your dog has a suspicious (based on history and clinical signs) or confirmed DMS (based on history, clinical signs and skin biopsy results) or VCLE.

Our contact information is:

Frane Banovic, DVM, Ph.D., DiplECVD
Laboratory of Comparative Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Veterinary Medical Center
College of Veterinary Medicine
2200 College Station Road
University of Georgia
30606, Athens, GA, USA
Email: fbanovic@uga.edu