Identification of changes in serum analytes and possible metabolic pathways associated with canine obesity-related metabolic dysfunction

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to identify analytes that could change and that could help to clarify the metabolic and physiopathological changes related to canine obesity-related metabolic dysfunction (ORMD). For this, serum from 35 overweight/obese dogs, with and without ORMD, was submitted to a comprehensive panel of biochemistry analysis, a gel-free tandem mass tag isobaric label-based proteomic analysis, and, finally, selected proteins were used as a starting point for creating a protein interaction network. Dogs with ORMD showed significantly higher serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Ca, total proteins, albumin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity in comparison with dogs without ORMD. Proteomic analysis revealed that 23 proteins related to lipid metabolism, the complement factor system, cellular adhesion and functionality, inflammation, and coagulation were altered in dogs with ORMD. Finally, the obtained protein interaction network highlighted that the central term of this network was the negative regulation of the immune response. These data suggest that canine ORMD is associated with changes in analytes that reflect altered lipid metabolism, and liver and immune function impairment and suggests the potential for a prothrombotic state and lung function alterations.