Effect of ultra low fat diet on regulatory T cells of dogs with intestinal limphangiectasia secondary to chronic enteropathy : A pilot study

[Abstract] Ultra low fat diet (ULFD) has shown a good therapeutic effect in dogs with intestinal lymphangiectasia secondary to CE (IL-CE). As we hypothesized that the mechanism of ULFD may involve the resolution of immunological impairment in IL-CE dogs, our study aimed to investigate the effect of ULFD on the circulating regulatory T cell (Treg) of IL-CE dogs. Treg frequency of pre- and post-ULFD blood samples from dogs with IL-CE (n=3) were measured using flow cytometry. Treg frequency in IL-CE group before ULFD treatment showed lower tendency when compared to healthy control (mean+-SD; 2.0+-1.6% and 4.3+-1.4%, respectively), and showed increased tendency after ULFD (mean+-SD; 4.5+-3.5%). The results suggested that ULFD might restore circulating Treg frequency of IL-CE dogs.