Functional and Transcriptional Responses of Neutrophils from Dogs Living Under Different Housing Conditions Following In Vitro Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation

Environmental conditions have an impact on animals’ immune systems. Neutrophils, as key components of innate immunity, rapidly respond to bacterial stimuli through the activation of inflammatory and migratory pathways. This study evaluated the transcriptional and functional responses of neutrophils derived from dogs living under different housing environments following in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Distinct transcriptional profiles were observed among groups in genes associated with leukocyte adhesion (CD11b), chemokine signaling (CXCR1, CXCR2, and CXCL8), and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). Additional cytokine analyses confirmed neutrophil activation and revealed differences in the magnitude and duration of cytokine secretion between groups. These findings indicate that environmental background may be associated with differences in both transcriptional responsiveness and cytokine production in canine neutrophils. Dogs originating from different housing conditions exhibited distinct patterns of inflammatory activation. The combined assessment of gene expression and cytokine secretion provides valuable insight into innate immune adaptation and might represent a useful approach for monitoring immune status in dogs.