Relationship between three novel SNPs of BRCA1 and canine mammary tumors

The BRCA1 gene plays an important role in the development of human breast cancer, and recent research indicated that genetic variations of BRCA1 are also related to canine mammary tumors (CMTs). Here, using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), we cloned the 5′- and 3′-UTRs of BRCA1. By direct sequencing of the flanking sequences of the 5′- and 3′-UTRs of BRCA1, three previously unreported single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, two (−1228T >C, −1173C >T) in the putative promoter regions and one non-synonymous SNP (63449G >A) in exon 23. Compared with 16 normal samples, the sequences from 34 CMTs suggested that SNP (−1173C >T) was associated with the development of CMTs (odds ratio (OR)=2.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–6.15).     

Alteration of somatostatin receptor 2 expression in canine mammary gland tumor

Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is a negative regulator of cell proliferation in human breast cancer. Since there is little information about SSTR2 in canine mammary gland tumor (MGT), we clarified its distribution and expression level in normal mammary gland, benign MGT and malignant MGT. SSTR2 expression determined by immunohistochemical staining was observed in the cytoplasm of luminal epithelial cells. The intensity was negatively correlated with malignancy: normal tissues and some of the benign tumors had the highest levels, while the malignant tumors had little or no SSTR2 expression. As for the Western blotting, SSTR2 protein level in benign tumors was significantly lower than the normal mammary gland. On the other hand, SSTR2 protein levels in two of three malignant tumors were higher than the other groups. These results suggest that SSTR2 expression alters according to the malignancy of canine MGT.     

Alpha basic crystallin expression in canine mammary tumors

The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic and/or diagnostic factors of canine mammary tumors by immunohistochemically analyzing the expression of alpha basic crystallin (αB-c). For this, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of 51 naturally-occurring canine mammary tumors (11 benign and 40 malignant) were used. Tissue from eight normal canine mammary glands were served as a control. Immunohistochemically, in the control mammary tissues, a few luminal epithelial cells were αB-c positive but myoepithelial cells were negative. In benign or simple type malignant tumors, αB-c expression was observed in luminal epithelial cells while the myoepithelial basal cells were negative. In benign or complex type malign tumors, positive staining was predominantly found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Immunoreactivity of αB-c was also observed in neoplastic myoepithelial cells. Statistically, the number of cells immunolabeled with αB-c was found to be significantly different among tissues from normal canine mammary glands, benign lesions, and malignant tumors (p < 0.05). αB-c immunoreactivity was higher in malignant tumors than the control mammary tissues (p < 0.001). Data obtained in the current study revealed a strong association between high expression levels of αB-c and primary mammary gland tumors in canines.     

猪GDF11基因部分序列的克隆及组织表达分析

为了探讨生长分化因子11(Growth differentiation factor11,GDF11,又名BMP11)在胸腰椎数变异中的作用,本试验克隆了该基因包含外显子2在内的部分编码区,并进一步采用RT-PCR技术对其在猪胚胎和初生仔猪中的表达进行了分析。结果表明,在35d的猪胚胎中,后肢、牙龈、脑、肝脏、肾脏、胸椎、腰椎各组织均有明显的表达,而在前肢、眼、心脏、肺脏中的表达较弱,在颈椎和荐尾椎中没有观察到GDF11的表达。在45d猪胚胎的后肢、脑、眼、胸椎组织中GDF11的表达较强,而在前肢、牙龈、肺脏、肾脏、腰椎和荐尾椎的表达相对较弱,在肝脏中的表达极其微弱。在心脏和颈椎中没有检测到GDF11的表达。在55d的猪胚胎中,前肢、后肢、脑、眼、肝脏、颈椎、胸椎、腰椎组织中有明显的表达,肺脏和肾脏组织中的表达较强,牙龈和荐尾椎中的表达较弱,而在心脏中没有检测到GDF11的表达。3d仔猪的后肢、牙龈、脑、肾脏和腰椎组织中GDF11有明显的表达,脾脏组织的表达量较高,前肢、肝脏、心脏、背腰最长肌和肺脏中的表达相对较弱,在眼、颈椎和荐尾椎中的表达极弱,在胸椎中没有检测到表达。在所检测的不同时期的所有组织中,脑和肾脏组织表达明显地高于其他组织。     

Haemoglobin in normal and neoplastic canine mammary glands

Four types of globins for oxygen transport are known in vertebrates, and the haemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen in blood. In this study, we found that haemoglobin was also expressed in canine mammary glands. Samples were taken from 26 malignant mammary tumors, 16 normal mammary glands and 10 other normal tissues. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), immunoblotting and mass spectrometry were used to investigate haemoglobin in mammary tissues. The results indicated that normal canine mammary glands expressed high levels of haemoglobin protein as shown by Coomassie blue staining. The identity of haemoglobin was confirmed by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry, and the mass spectrometry data revealed that both alpha-haemoglobin and beta-haemoglobin were expressed. Relative to normal mammary glands, the levels of haemoglobin expression in mammary tumors were lower. Our results also indicated that the haemoglobin was endogenously produced in mammary gland tissues and was not derived from the erythroid cells.     

Isolation and characterization of canine tumor endothelial cells

The present study involved the isolation and characterization of canine tumor endothelial cells (TECs) from 2 malignancies. TECs were isolated using magnetic cell sorting following FITC labeling with UEA1 lectin, and they were characterized by measuring genetic and histopathological endothelial markers. Isolated TECs exhibited a cobblestone-like morphology and expressed both vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and Von Willebrand factor (vWF). Further, both TECs and tumor cells derived from a seminoma exhibited increased C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7) expression. However, CXCR7 expression was not detected in TECs and tumor cells derived from a hepatocellular carcinoma. Understanding TEC specific traits may be important in the development of more efficacious anti-angiogenic therapies that do not induce adverse effects.     

犬瘟热病毒A株核衣壳蛋白基因的克隆、表达及特性分析

根据GenBank中A75／14株犬瘟热病毒（CDV）核衣壳蛋白（N）基因的核苷酸序列设计合成一对引物，经RT-PCRgA病毒总RNA中扩增出1600bp的N基因，将其克隆于pMD18-T载体对其进行序列分析。结果表明A株CDV与其它毒株N基因序列的同源性较高。将N基因定向克隆于原核表达栽体pPROEXX^TM HT，用重组质粒pPROEX^TM HT-N转化感受态E．coli DH5a细胞，用IPTG于37℃诱导表达了分子量约63Ku的重组N蛋白，占菌体总蛋白18％。经Western blot分析证实所表达的重组N蛋白具反应活性，将表达产物用ProBond^TM纯化试剂盒进行了纯化。用所获得的重组蛋白免疫家兔制备的多克隆抗体可与CDV全病毒发生特异性反应，经琼扩试验测定其效价为1：16。本实验为下一步用重组N蛋白作为诊断用抗原，建立特异的CDV抗体检测方法奠定了基础。     

Prevalence of canine coronavirus (CCoV) in dog in Japan: detection of CCoV RNA and retrospective serological analysis

We collected rectal swabs from dogs in Japan during 2011 to 2014, and canine coronavirus (CCoV) nucleocapsid gene was detected by RT-PCR. The relationship between CCoV infection and the manifestation of diarrhea symptoms was investigated, and a correlation was noted (df=1, χ²=8.90, P<0.005). The types of CCoV detected in samples from CCoV-infected dogs were CCoV-I in 88.9% and CCoV-II in 7.4%, respectively. We retrospectively investigated the seroprevalence of CCoV-I in dogs in Japan during 1998 to 2006. The sera were tested with a neutralizing antibody test. In the absence of CCoV-I laboratory strain, we used feline coronavirus (FCoV)-I that shares high sequence homology in the S protein with CCoV-I. 77.7% of the sera were positive for neutralizing anti-FCoV-I antibodies.     

犬瘟热病毒水貂分离株F基因的克隆及原核表达

根据GenBank中登录的犬瘟热病毒F基因序列设计了1对引物，以从水貂犬瘟热病毒中提取的RNA为模板，扩增出一约1000bp的F基因片段。将PCR产物按相应的阅读框架克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a中，并将重组质粒转化E．coli BL21（DE3），用1．0mmol／L IPTG在30℃下诱导表达。结果显示，F基因的表达量约占细菌总蛋白的35％。SDS-PAGE电泳显示，表达产物的分子质量约为55ku，与预计大小相符；经Western-blotting试验进一步证实，该基因获得了正确表达。     

Biological features of canine cancer-associated fibroblasts and their influence on cancer cell invasion

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an essential role in tumor invasion and metastasis. In dogs, the biological features of CAFs have not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the biological activities of canine CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs), and their influence on the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Canine CAFs and NFs were harvested from surgically-resected malignant epithelial tumor tissues and skin tissues of dogs. A wound-healing assay was conducted to compare the migratory and invasive abilities of canine CAFs and NFs. The results of this study showed that canine CAFs have a greater migratory and invasive ability than NFs. To observe the indirect and direct interactions between fibroblasts and cancer cells, Boyden chamber assay and 3D co-culture with collagen gel were conducted. The number of migrated and infiltrated cancer cells co-cultured with canine CAFs was greater than that with NFs. In the 3D co-culture, cancer cells showed noteworthy proliferation on the surface of gels containing canine CAFs and invasion into the gel. On the other hand, no infiltration of cancer cells into the gel containing NFs was observed. It was suggested that canine CAFs activate migration and invasion of cancer cells and promote the infiltration of cancer cells into collagen gels.     

Loss of p27 expression in canine mammary tumors and their metastases

The p27 gene is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, which arrest G1- to S-phase transition of the cell cycle. We have previously shown a significant reduction of p27 mRNA expression level in laser-microdissected mammary carcinomas and their lymph node metastases when compared to non-neoplastic mammary gland of the same dog. Here, p27 expression was analyzed on the protein level in non-neoplastic mammary gland, primary mammary carcinomas, their lymph node metastases and intravascular tumor cells of 49 dogs, adenomas of 49 dogs and non-neoplastic mammary gland of 98 dogs by immunohistochemistry. A significantly (p ? 0.05) decreased percentage of p27 positive tissue samples was found when normal gland was compared with adenomas, carcinomas and lymph node metastases. Specifically, 91% of normal gland epithelium displayed nuclear p27 expression. In contrast, only 22% of the adenomas, 20% of carcinomas, 12% of lymph node metastases and 32% of intravascular tumor cells had p27 reactivity. Cell cycle control by p27 is therefore lost in the majority of canine mammary tumors. The lack of significant differences between benign and malignant mammary tumors indicates that decreased p27 expression is an early step in carcinogenesis of canine mammary tumors and hinders the use of p27 as a marker of malignancy for this tumor type.     

The oncolytic effects of reovirus in canine solid tumor cell lines

Oncolytic virotherapy is a new strategy for cancer treatment for humans and dogs. Reovirus has been proven to be a potent oncolytic virus in human medicine. Our laboratory has previously reported that canine mast cell tumor and canine lymphoma were susceptible to reovirus. In this study, canine solid tumor cell lines (mammary gland tumor, osteosarcoma and malignant melanoma) were tested to determine their susceptibility towards reovirus. We demonstrated that reovirus induces more than 50% cell death in three canine mammary gland tumors and one canine malignant melanoma cell line. The reovirus-induced cell death occurred via the activation of caspase 3. Ras activation has been shown to be one of the important mechanisms of reovirus-susceptibility in human cancers. However, Ras activation was not related to the reovirus-susceptibility in canine solid tumor cell lines, which was similar to reports in canine mast cell tumor and canine lymphoma. The results of this study highly suggest that canine mammary gland tumor and canine malignant melanoma are also potential candidates for reovirus therapy in veterinary oncology.     

Use of quantitative real-time RT-PCR to investigate the correlation between viremia and viral shedding of canine distemper virus,and infection outcomes in experimentally infected dogs

We used real-time RT-PCR and virus titration to examine canine distemper virus (CDV) kinetics in peripheral blood and rectal and nasal secretions from 12 experimentally infected dogs. Real-time RT-PCR proved extremely sensitive, and the correlation between the two methods for rectal and nasal (r=0.78, 0.80) samples on the peak day of viral RNA was good. Although the dogs showed diverse symptoms, viral RNA kinetics were similar; the peak of viral RNA in the symptomatic dogs was consistent with the onset of symptoms. These results indicate that real-time RT-PCR is sufficiently sensitive to monitor CDV replication in experimentally infected dogs regardless of the degree of clinical manifestation and suggest that the peak of viral RNA reflects active CDV replication.     

精子受精抗原-1(FA-1) mRNA在绵羊睾丸和附睾中的表达

本研究通过RT-PCR检测了该基因在绵羊睾丸和附睾中的表达情况。首先,提取绵羊睾丸组织、附睾头、体、尾部组织总RNA,以此为模板,反转录合成cDNA,自行设计引物,PCR扩增出462 bp的目的DNA。然后,将目的片断克隆入T载体,通过菌液PCR和重组质粒酶切,鉴定重组质粒中的目的DNA。再经序列分析鉴定目的片断。同时,以β-actin为内参照物,进行RT-PCR半定量分析,比较精子受精抗原(FA-1)在睾丸、附睾头、体、尾组织中的表达量。结果表明,FA-1在绵羊睾丸和附睾中均表达。     

氨基多糖纳米微粒对 RAW264.7 细胞株TNF-α基因mRNA表达量的影响

本试验探讨氨基多糖纳米微粒(Chitosan nanoparticle,CNP)对巨噬细胞RAW264.7细胞株中肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)基因mRNA表达量的影响.以巨噬细胞株RAW264.7为腹腔巨噬细胞模型,分别作用RAW264.7细胞12、18 h及24 h后,运用RT-PCR半定量法分析TNF-α mRNA表达水平的变化.结果表明:CNP有明显的提高TNF-α mRNA表达量的作用.CNP组TNF-α mRNA表达量12、18 h及24 h分别为91%、63.2%和152.5%;对照组TNF-α mRNA表达量12、18 h及24 h分别为78.9%、51.2%及109.3%.CNP组与对照组相应时间段mRNA表达量相比均有所提高,提高了15.3%、23.4%及39.5%.其中CNP组24 h TNF-αmRNA表达量与其他各组相比差异显著(P＜0.05).CNP能提高巨噬细胞株RAW264.7 TNF-α mRNA的表达,因此发挥抗肿瘤作用.     

Tumour‐associated macrophages are associated with vascular endothelial growth factor expression in canine mammary tumours

Tumour‐associated macrophages (TAMs) have been implicated in carcinogenesis including an important role in angiogenesis. In this study, we describe the relationship between TAMs and angiogenesis in canine mammary tumours (CMT). Formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded CMT samples [(n = 128: malignant (n = 97) and benign (n = 31)] were submitted to immunohistochemical staining to detect MAC387, vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF and CD31 expression. A statistical analysis was carried out to assess possible associations with clinicopathological variables and biological markers of tumour angiogenesis. TAMs, detected by MAC387 expression, were significantly associated with malignant CMT (P < 0.001) and VEGF positive tumours (P = 0.002) and also associated with VEGF expression within malignant CMT (P = 0.043). Associations with clinicopathological variables were found between TAMs and the presence of infiltrative growth (P = 0.031), low tubule formation (P = 0.040) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.016). The results support the hypothesis that TAMs influence angiogenesis in CMT suggesting TAMs may represent a therapeutic target in this disease.     

VEGFR‐2 expression in malignant tumours of the canine mammary gland: a prospective survival study

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR‐2) is the main receptor activated by vascular endothelial growth factor ‐A (VEGF‐A) to promote tumour angiogenesis. Its clinical prognostic value has not been studied in canine mammary tumours (CMTs). Dogs with mammary cancer were enrolled in a survival study and the immunohistochemical expressions of VEGFR‐2 and VEGF‐A were analysed and associated with clinicopathological features. VEGFR‐2 expression was associated with VEGF immunoreactivity in cancer cells, supporting the presence of an autocrine loop that may be involved in CMTs growth and survival. VEGFR‐2 was also expressed by endothelial cells from tumour vasculature and positively associated with stromal matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9), suggesting the existence of a link between endothelial cells activation and up‐regulation of matrix degrading proteins. Carcinosarcomas exhibited high VEGFR‐2 expression suggesting that it may be one of the activated molecular pathways in this aggressive histological type and that VEGFR‐2 inhibitors may constitute a potential treatment to improve the prognosis of these patients. Both VEGF and VEGFR‐2 immunoreactivities were independent of patients' overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS).