Investigating Inflammation and Disease in Aging Dogs

Aging is marked by chronic inflammation. In people, one cause of inflammation is the presence of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). CHIP is seen when white blood cells acquire mutations that cause the cells to live longer and produce harmful, inflammatory proteins. People with CHIP are more likely to have diseases such as type II diabetes, heart disease and stroke, all of which are caused by inflammation. The same may be true for dogs and age-related canine health concerns. Researchers will fill in the knowledge gap of what kind of CHIP mutations are seen in dogs, measure CHIP mutation frequency in older dogs and the effect of mutations on the dog immune system. The team will use this new data to measure CHIP in dogs enrolled in large cohort studies such as the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study and the Dog Aging Project with the aim of looking for links associated with inflammatory diseases. The team also will assess potential treatments to fight the effects of CHIP and associated diseases in aging dogs.