Effects of a Cyclooxygenase-2 Preferential Inhibitor in Young Healthy Dogs Exposed to Air Pollution: A Pilot Study

Residency in cities with high air pollution is associated with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in healthy children, young adults, and dogs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may offer neuroprotection. The authors measured the plasma concentrations of 3-nitrotyrosine and the cerebro-spinal-fluid concentrations of prostaglandin E2 metabolite and the oligomeric form of amyloid derived diffusible ligand; measured the mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin 1β, CD14, and Aquaporin-4 in target brain areas; and evaluated brain MRI, cognition, and neuropathology in 8 dogs treated with a preferential cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (Nimesulide®) versus 7 untreated litter-matched Mexico City dogs. Nimesulide® significantly decreased nitrotyrosine in plasma (p < .0001), frontal gray IL1β (p = .03), and heart IL1β (p = .02). No effect was seen in mRNA COX2, amyloid, and PGE2 in CSF or the MRI white matter lesions. All exposed dogs exhibited olfactory bulb and frontal accumulation of Aβ42 in neurons and...