Exploring canine inflammatory brain disease: Early diagnosis and a regenerative medicine approach
Necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NME) is a devastating and often fatal neuroinflammatory condition in young Pugs, historically diagnosed only after severe neurological signs appear, at which point prognosis is poor. Recent work has identified subtle, early neurological abnormalities in Pugs at genomic risk for NME, suggesting an opportunity for earlier intervention. This presentation will review a pilot study investigating the tolerability and potential efficacy of intravenous allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in Pugs with presumptive early NME. MSCs are hypothesized to exert immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects, potentially delaying or reversing early disease. Initial data has demonstrated MSC infusions to be well tolerated, produce rapid improvement in neurological signs, and led to sustained remission in many dogs. These findings highlight the promise of integrating regenerative medicine into the treatment of naturally occurring neuroinflammatory disease.
- Understand the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of necrotizing NME in Pugs, including parallels with human multiple sclerosis.
- Review the rationale for early identification of at-risk Pugs using genomic risk assessment and neurological screening.
- Describe the approach to using MSC infusions for the treatment of early identified NME in Pugs.
- Evaluate the tolerability and effectiveness of intravenous allogeneic MSC therapy in Pugs with presumptive early NME.
- Interpret the short- and long-term outcomes reported, including immediate neurological improvement, sustained remission, and relapse requiring immunosuppressive rescue therapy.
- Discuss the translational potential of MSC therapy in veterinary neurology and its implications for human neuroinflammatory diseases.
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