Expression and significance of p53, rb,p21/waf-1, p16/ink-4a,and PTEN tumor suppressors in canine melanoma

The role of tumor suppressor genes in the pathogenesis of canine melanoma is incompletely understood. The genes encoding the tumor suppressors p53, Rb, p21 (waf-1), p16 (ink-4a), and PTEN have been postulated to contribute to the pathogenesis of melanoma in humans and experimental animal models. To assess whether inactivation of these genes similarly contributes to the origin and progression of canine melanoma, we examined their expression in seven distinct canine melanoma cell lines and in 31 retrospective samples (representing 29 dogs) of spontaneous canine melanoma. Various patterns suggestive of loss of tumor suppressor function emerged in these cell lines. The most frequently observed abnormality was loss or significant reduction of p16 expression in six of seven cell lines and in 21 of 26 tumor samples. Loss or significant reduction of PTEN expression was seen in four of seven cell lines and in 13 of 27 tumor samples. Although p53 was detectable in all the cell lines and in 24 of 30 tumors, exclusion of p53 from the nuclear compartment was observed in each of the cell lines and in 18 of 25 tumor samples. These results indicate that loss of function of these tumor suppressor proteins is a common occurrence that may contribute to the origin of canine melanoma. In our sample population, abnormalities in the expression or localization of one or more tumor suppressor proteins occurred with similar frequency in malignant and benign tumors; thus, additional work is necessary to determine how these proteins may impact disease progression and response to therapy.     

Expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase causes lomustine resistance in canine lymphoma cells

The DNA repair protein O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) causes resistance to nitrosoureas in various human cancers. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between canine lymphomas and MGMT in vitro. Two of five canine lymphoma cell lines required higher concentrations of lomustine to inhibit cell growth by 50%, but their sensitivity to the drug increased when they were cultured with an MGMT inhibitor. Fluorometric oligonucleotide assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction of these cell lines revealed MGMT activity and high MGMT mRNA expression, respectively. We analyzed the methylation status of the CpG islands of the canine MGMT gene by the bisulfite-sequencing method. Unlike human cells, the canine lymphoma cell lines did not show significant correlation between methylation status and MGMT suppression levels. Our results suggest that in canine lymphoma MGMT activity may influence sensitivity to nitrosoureas; thus, inhibition of MGMT activity would benefit nitrosourea-resistant patients. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of regulation of MGMT expression.     

Tumor suppressor PTEN is mutated in canine osteosarcoma cell lines and tumors

Canine osteosarcoma (OS) cell lines contain mutations that directly or indirectly inactivate the tumor suppressor genes p53 and retinoblastoma. Another important tumor suppressor, PTEN, is mutated in many human cancers. To determine whether inactivation of PTEN plays a role in the pathogenesis of canine OS, we studied its expression in canine OS cell lines and tumors. Four of five canine OS cell lines (CO2, C03, CO5, and CO7) constitutively express high levels of the phosphorylated form of Akt, an indirect indicator of aberrant PTEN expression. PTEN protein is essentially absent from three of these cell lines (CO2, CO5, and CO7), whereas C03 contains a potentially inactivating amino acid substitution in PTEN at codon 340. Genomic hybridization experiments indicate that CO2, CO5, and CO7 contain large deletions within the PTEN gene. Ten of 15 OS tumors exhibit variable or negative PTEN staining. Evaluation of a PTEN-negative staining tumor by Southern blotting indicates that the PTEN gene is deleted in this tumor. These results indicate that PTEN is mutated or downregulated in a high percentage of canine OS cell lines and tumors and likely plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Inactivation of p53 and retinoblastoma family pathways in canine osteosarcoma cell lines

Canine osteosarcoma (OS) has been used as a model system for the study of cancer biology and treatment despite the lack of information regarding its pathogenesis. Expression of tumor suppressor genes known to participate in malignant transformation were studied in five different OS cell lines. Each of the cell lines exhibited properties of transformed cells, and those that were tested grew in soft agarose and formed osteoid-containing tumors when injected subcutaneously into nude mice. p53 function was determined to be defective in each cell line as indicated by the lack of induction of p53-responsive genes, p21 and mdm2, following treatment with 5-fluorouracil. p53 mRNA and protein levels were elevated in three cell lines and were extremely low in two cell lines. p53 protein overexpression correlated with the presence of mutations within the DNA binding domain. Four cell lines appeared to contain normal retinoblastoma (Rb) mRNA and Rb protein and no detectable p16 mRNA or protein. In contrast, the remaining cell line contained high levels of p16 mRNA and protein and significantly reduced levels of Rb, p107, and p130 proteins. These results underscore the importance of inactivating p53 and Rb family pathways in canine OS and suggest that unlike human OS, cells derived from canine OS contain mutations that simultaneously inactivate all three Rb family members.     

香猪卵巢RARRES1基因第1外显子CG位点的甲基化及其与基因差异表达的关联

为验证和探索香猪卵巢转录组RNA测序检测到的视黄酸受体应答1（retinoic acid receptor responder 1,RARRES1）基因在香猪高、低产仔组之间差异表达的原因,本试验针对RARRES1基因第1外显子ATG下游富含CpG位点区段设计特异性引物,采用亚硫酸氢盐测序法（bisulfite sequencing PCR,BSP）研究卵巢RARRES1基因中的甲基化修饰水平;利用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测高、低产仔组香猪卵巢RARRES1基因的表达量,并探究其与基因甲基化水平之间的相关性。结果表明,与低产仔组相比,香猪高产仔组的甲基化水平较高;4个CpG位点均未被甲基化（CpG_7、CpG_11、CpG_12和CpG_15）,另外3个CpG位点（CpG_8、CpG_17和CpG_18）基本上全部发生了甲基化。此外,与低产仔组相比,香猪高产仔组中CpG_4（P>0.05）、CpG_9（P<0.05）和CpG_16（P<0.05）位点的甲基化占比较高,而CpG_6位点在香猪低产仔组中的甲基化比例较高,两组差异极显著（P<0.01）。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,高产仔组香猪RARRES1基因的表达水平较高（P<0.05）。Spearman相关分析结果显示,CpG_9和CpG_16两个位点的甲基化比例与RARRES1基因的表达水平高度正相关（R²=0.896,P<0.01）,提示这两个位点的甲基化可能是香猪高产仔组RARRES1基因表达量较高的原因。     

UCP3基因在巴马猪和藏猪脂肪组织中的表达和甲基化分析

为探究解偶联蛋白3（uncoupling protein 3,UCP3）基因在巴马猪和藏猪皮下脂肪组织中的表达和甲基化水平,试验采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测UCP3基因在巴马猪和藏猪皮下脂肪组织中的mRNA表达水平;针对猪UCP3基因启动子区域（-3 580~+920 bp）,利用在线软件MethPrimer对该区域进行CpG岛预测,并采用亚硫酸氢盐测序法（bisulfite sequencing PCR,BSP）检测其甲基化水平,探究UCP3基因甲基化水平在巴马猪和藏猪中的差异。结果显示,巴马猪皮下脂肪组织UCP3基因表达量显著高于藏猪（P<0.05）;在UCP3基因启动子区预测到3个CpG甲基化岛,分别是CpG island1（-3 171~-2 928 bp）、CpG island2（-154~-2 bp）和CpG island3（+648~+806 bp）,其中CpG island1和CpG island3的甲基化水平在巴马猪和藏猪中差异较小,而藏猪CpG island2的甲基化水平（42.61%）高于巴马猪（24.49%）。本研究绘制了2个猪种CpG island2甲基化水平的黑白点图,其中CpG位点为4、8、9、10、11、12、15,藏猪甲基化频率分别比巴马猪高28.26%、17.39%、26.09%、26.09%、26.09%、23.91%和34.78%。在CpG island2处预测到3个转录因子结合位点（SP2、PPARγ和EGR1）。结果表明,巴马猪和藏猪皮下脂肪组织中UCP3基因mRNA水平的表达差异可能是由于CpG island2的甲基化水平不同所导致,藏猪DNA甲基化水平在一定程度上阻碍了转录因子与启动子调控区域的结合,从而抑制了UCP3基因的表达。     

Anti‐Tumor Effect of Adenovirus‐Mediated P53 Gene Therapy on the Growth of Canine Osteosarcoma Transplanted into Nude Mice

Introduction:  It has been reported that 40–50% of canine osteosarcoma cases have p53 mutations. The p53 tumor supressor gene plays a central role in cell cycle regulation and induction of apoptosis. We previously showed that adenoviral vector expressing canine P53 (AxCA‐cp53) inhibited growth of cultured canine osteosarcoma cell lines. Here, we evaluated anti‐tumor effect of adenovirus‐mediated p53 gene therapy on the growth of canine osteosarcomas transplanted into nude mice.
Methods:  Nine nude mice were subcutaneously injected with cells of a canine osteosarcoma cell line (POS) having p53 gene mutation. The transplanted tumors formed into nude mice were injected with AxCA‐cp53, AxCA‐LacZ (adenovirus vector expressing LacZ) or PBS (3 mice each) 7 times during 15 days. Tumor sizes were measured every 3 days for 27 days after injection with the adenovirus vectors. Expression efficiency of the adenovirus‐mediated gene transfer was examined by X‐gal staining and P53 immunostaining. Effects of the P53 expression on cell cycle control were examined by RT‐PCR for expression of p21 gene downstream of P53.
Results:  Significant differences in the tumor size was observed between the transplanted osteosarcoma tissues injected with AxCA‐cp53 and those injected with AxCA‐LacZ or PBS. Expressions of LacZ and P53 were confirmed at the injection sites of the tumors. Moreover, p21 mRNA expression was shown to be induced in the AxCA‐cp53‐injected tumors, indicating the funciton of P53 to induce cell cycle arrest.
Conclusions:  Adenoviral vector expressing canine P53 inhibited the growth of canine ostersarcoma transplanted into nude mice.     

Prognostic significance of hypermethylation of death‐associated protein kinase (DAPK) gene CpG island in dogs with high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma

Death‐associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a serine/threonine kinase and a tumour suppressor gene. Diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas with inactivated DAPK through hypermethylation of a CpG island is known to result in a biologically aggressive phenotype in humans. This retrospective study was carried out to analyse the prognostic significance of DAPK CpG island hypermethylation in canine lymphoma. We hypothesized that DAPK CpG island hypermethylation can be a negative prognostic indicator in dogs with nodal high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma. Forty‐seven dogs with high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma, according to the updated Kiel classification, were evaluated after being treated with a CHOP (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone)‐based chemotherapy protocol. The methylation status of the DAPK CpG island was examined by methylation‐specific PCR. Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared using the Kaplan‐Meier analysis and log‐rank test. The cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the effect of multiple variables. Hypermethylation of the DAPK CpG island was detected in 21 of the 47 dogs. The PFS and OS in dogs with the hypermethylation (median: 220 and 266 days, respectively) were significantly shorter than those of dogs without hypermethylation (median: 301 and 412 days, respectively) (PFS, P = .036; OS, P = .007). In the multivariate analysis, hypermethylation of the DAPK CpG island remained an independent prognostic factor in predicting shortened PFS (P = .047) and OS (P = .021) as well as clinical substage b. Overall, hypermethylation of the DAPK CpG island was a negative prognostic factor in canine high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma.     

Non-CpG methylation occurs in the regulatory region of the Sry gene

The Sry (sex determining region on Y chromosome) gene is a master gene for sex determination. We previously reported that the Sry gene has tissue-dependent and differentially methylated regions (T-DMRs) by analyzing the DNA methylation states at CpG sites in the promoter regions. In this study, we found unique non-CpG methylation at the internal cytosine in the 5'-CCTGG-3' pentanucleotide sequence in the Sry T-DMR. This non-CpG methylation was detected in four mouse strains (ICR, BALB/c, DBA2 and C3H), but not in two strains (C57BL/6 and 129S1), suggesting that the CCTGG methylation is tentative and unstable. Interestingly, this CCTGG methylation was associated with demethylation of the CpG sites in the Sry T-DMR in the developmental process. A methylation-mediated promoter assay showed that the CCTGG methylation promotes gene expression. Our finding shows that non-CpG methylation has unique characteristic and is still conserved in mammals.     

Expression of the MDR1 gene and P-glycoprotein in canine mast cell tumor cell lines

Cellular drug resistance to antineoplastic drugs is often due to the presence of a drug efflux pump that reduces intracellular drug accumulation and chemosensitivity. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is encoded by the MDR1 gene, is considered to function as an ATP-driven membrane drug efflux pump and appears to play an important role in tumor cell resistance. In the present report, we assessed the expression of MDR1 by RT-PCR in three canine mast cell tumor cell lines, TiMC, CoMS and LuMC, originating from a cutaneous tumor, an oral-mucosal tumor and a gastrointestinal tumor, respectively. P-gp expression was also examined by Western blot analysis, while the functional activity of P-gp was assessed by flowcytometric analysis of intracellular rhodamine-123 (Rhd-123) uptake. The results revealed that MDR1 gene and P-gp were both expressed in CoMS and LuMC cells, whereas neither was present in TiMC cells. In CoMS and LuMC cells, intracellular uptake of Rhd-123 increased in the presence of verapamil, a functional modulator of P-gp. In contrast, TiMC cells did not show any changes in the intracellular accumulation of Rhd-123 after the verapamil addition. These findings suggest that the expressions of MDR1 gene and P-gp probably contribute to cellular drug resistance in canine mast cell tumors.     

Inactivation of the p16 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in high-grade canine non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphoma

The significance of p16/Rb tumor suppressor pathway inactivation in T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) remains incompletely understood. We used naturally occurring canine NHL to test the hypothesis that p16 inactivation has specific pathologic correlates. Forty-eight samples (22 T-cell NHL and 26 B-cell NHL) were included. As applicable, metaphase- or array-based comparative genomic hybridization, Southern blotting, promoter methylation, and Rb phosphorylation were used to determine the presence, expression, and activity of p16. Fisher's exact test was used to test for significance. Deletion of p16 (or loss of dog chromosome 11) was restricted to high-grade T-cell NHL (lymphoblastic T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified). These were characterized by a concomitant increase of tumor cells with Rb phosphorylation at canonical CDK4 sites. Rb phosphorylation also was seen in high-grade B-cell NHL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt-type lymphoma), but in those cases, it appeared to be associated with c-Myc overexpression. The data show that p16 deletion or inactivation occurs almost exclusively in high-grade T-cell NHL; however, alternative pathways can generate functional phenotypes of Rb deficiency in low-grade T-cell NHL and in high-grade B-cell NHL. Both morphologic classification according to World Health Organization criteria and assessment of Rb phosphorylation are prognostically valuable parameters for canine NHL.     

Molecular cloning of canine membrane-anchored inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase, RECK

The reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) gene is one of the endogenous matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors. It was reported that decreased RECK expression closely correlated with tumor malignancy. We determined the cDNA sequence of the canine RECK gene. The cDNA sequence and deduced amino acid of canine RECK were 2,913 bases and 971 residues, respectively. The predicted amino acid sequence of the protein showed 95.5% and 91.9% homology with human and mouse RECK, respectively. RECK mRNA expression was analyzed in various canine tissues and tumor cell lines by quantitative RT-PCR. The highest RECK expression was detected in lung and testis. In comparison with the tissues, a remarkably low expression level was detected in tumor cell lines. In addition, the RECK gene was transfected in the canine transitional cell carcinoma, and its influence on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was analyzed. The transfected RECK gene suppressed only canine tumor invasion. These results showed that RECK might play an important role in tumor malignancy in dogs as well as in other mammalians.     

Oncolysis of canine tumor cells by myxoma virus lacking the serp2 gene

Objective-To determine the oncolytic efficacy of an attenuated form of myxoma virus lacking the serp2 gene in canine tumor cells. Sample-Primary cells were isolated from tumors that were surgically removed from dogs and from connective tissue obtained from the cadaver of a dog. Cells of various established cell lines from tumors and nontumorous tissues were obtained. Procedures-Experiments were performed with cells in monolayer culture. Cell cultures were inoculated with wild-type myxoma viruses or myxoma viruses lacking the serp2 gene, and measures of cytopathic effects, viral growth kinetics, and cell death and apoptosis were determined. Results-Myxoma viruses replicated in cells of many of the primary and established canine tumor cell lines. Canine tumor cells in which expression of activated protein kinase B was upregulated were more permissive to myxoma virus infection than were cells in which expression of activated protein kinase B was not upregulated. Myxoma viruses lacking the serp2 gene caused more cytopathic effects in canine tumor cells because of apoptosis than did wild-type myxoma viruses. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results of the present study indicated myxoma viruses lacking the serp2 gene may be useful for treatment of cancer in dogs. Impact for Human Medicine-Results of the present study may be useful for development of novel oncolytic treatments for tumors in humans.     

DNA methylation patterns at the IGF2‐H19 locus in sperm of Swiss Landrace and Swiss Large White boars

DNA methylation patterns at the IGF2‐H19 locus were investigated in sperm DNA from Swiss Landrace (SL) and Swiss Large White (LW) boars. The putative IGF2 differentially methylated regions (DMR) 0, 1 and 2, a quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) region in the intron 3 and a CpG island in the intron 4 of the IGF2 gene as well as three regions around porcine CTCF binding sites within the H19 differentially methylated domain (DMD) were selected for the DNA methylation analysis. In both breeds putative IGF2 DMR0, 1, 2 and H19 DMD were hypermethylated. Significant differences in DNA methylation content were found between the two breeds in the two DMD regions proximal to the H19 gene. The IGF2 QTN region and the CpG island in the IGF2 intron 4 were hypomethylated in sperm DNA of both breeds. The methylation analysis revealed significantly more methylated CpG sites in the intron 4 of sperm from the LW breed than in that from SL. No difference was found in global DNA methylation between the two breeds. These results indicate differences in DNA methylation patterns between breeds and it remains to be established whether variation in DNA methylation patterns impacts on phenotypic traits.     

血小板凝血酶蛋白1对犬乳腺肿瘤细胞体外生物学特性的影响分析

本研究旨在深入探讨血小板凝血酶蛋白1(THBS1)对犬乳腺肿瘤细胞CHMp的影响,并阐明其影响犬乳腺肿瘤发生发展的作用机制。通过构建THBS1慢病毒稳定过表达和THBS1沉默表达的犬乳腺肿瘤细胞CHMp细胞系,采用CCK-8试验、划痕试验、Transwell试验、原位荧光检测和流式细胞术检测THBS1对CHMp细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭、细胞凋亡和细胞周期情况的影响;通过qRT-PCR和Western blot检测THBS1对CHMp细胞凋亡相关因子(p53、Bcl-2、Bax)表达情况的影响,验证THBS1对CHMp细胞凋亡通路的影响。结果显示,过表达THBS1能有效增强犬乳腺肿瘤细胞CHMp的增殖、迁移和侵袭能力,并且减少CHMp细胞的凋亡数量,而沉默THBS1后结果与之相反;流式细胞术得出THBS1能够影响CHMp细胞的细胞周期分布;经qRT-PCR和Western blot检测发现,在THBS1过表达后,p53和Bcl-2的表达量均明显增高,Bax的表达量明显减少,在沉默THBS1后结果与之相反。结果表明,THBS1的异常表达能够影响犬乳腺肿瘤细胞CHMp的增殖、迁移、侵袭以及细胞周期;此外,THBS1能够通过影响细胞凋亡因子p53、Bcl-2和Bax的表达来影响CHMp细胞凋亡相关通路,进而影响犬乳腺肿瘤的发生发展。