Introduction

Cutaneous lymphoma is a rare neoplasm in dogs that shows aggressive biological behavior with little information about its pathogenesis available. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized population of T lymphocytes that have the function of suppressing immune system response against cancer and pathogens. Elevation of these cells in cancer patients may promote tumor development.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to quantify by flow cytometry, regulatory T cells (FoxP3⁺ CD4⁺) from peripheral blood of dogs with cutaneous lymphoma.

Methods

Six patients with epitheliotropic cutaneous lymphoma and 10 healthy animals (control group) were used.

Results

Animals from cutaneous lymphoma group had a higher percentage of Tregs when compared to control group (10.75 ± 1.87 x 4.70 ± 0.50) with significant difference between groups (p = 0.0037).

Figure 1. Percentage of Treg in healthy animals (control group) and cutaneous lymphoma group at diagnosis

Conclusion

Despite the small number of evaluated animals, this study suggests that dogs with cutaneous lymphoma have a greater percentage of Treg cells in peripheral blood than healthy dogs. This fact may contribute to the poor outcome of this disease, and future studies aiming to develop therapies directed against Treg cells may be promising in the adjuvant treatment of dogs with cutaneous lymphoma.