Immunohistochemical analysis of ocular hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas in dogs

Purpose  To determine if molecular markers typically associated with ultraviolet exposure could be detected in canine ocular hemangiomas (HA) and hemangiosarcomas (HSA).
Methods  Paraffin-embedded samples of canine ocular HA ( n  = 6) and HSA ( n  = 6) were examined for the presence of p53, p21, p16, cyclin D, PCNA, pAkt, telomerase, and estrogen receptor (ER)-α using immunohistochemistry.
Results  p53 and cyclin D protein were not detected in any of the canine HA or HSA samples. The majority of the HA and HSA were negative for both p21 and telomerase. pAkt immunoreactivity was absent in one HA, one HSA, but was present in five HA and five HSA. All of the HA or HSA samples were strongly positive for p16 and PCNA. ERα was expressed in all of the samples examined; there was more intense staining in the HSA samples compared to the HA samples.
Conclusions  Results from this study describe the protein expression, via immunohistochemistry, that might be altered in UV exposure in HA and HAS formation. p53 may not play an important role in tumor development; rather, in the tumors examined, expression of cell cycle regulators independent of the p53 pathway appear central in HA and HSA formation and progression. In addition, this study finds that ERα may be involved in promoting the invasive behavior associated with HSA.     

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.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of cyclin A, cyclin D1 and P53 in mammary tumors, squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell tumors of dogs and cats

The involvement of cyclin A, cyclin D1 and p53 proteins in canine and feline tumorigenesis was analyzed immunohistochemically. In the present study, a total of 176 cases were examined, among which there were 108 canine cases (75 mammary lesions, 16 squamous cell carcinomas and 17 basal cell tumors) and 68 feline cases (43 mammary lesions, 20 squamous cell carcinomas and 5 basal cell tumors). Speckled nuclear staining for cyclin A was observed in 19/38 (50%) canine malignant mammary tumors and 18/37 (48.6%) feline mammary carcinomas, while this was not seen in benign mammary tumors of either dogs or cats. Marked intense nuclear cyclin A staining was seen in 7/16 (43.8%) canine squamous cell carcinomas and 18/20 (90.0%) feline squamous cell carcinomas. Only 3/17 (17.6%) canine basal cell tumors showed slight and scattered staining for cyclin A. Expression of cyclin D1 was very rare in both canine and feline tumors. Nuclear staining of p53 was found in 7/37 (18.9%) feline mammary carcinomas. Intense immunoreactivity for p53 was found in 6/16 (37.5%) canine squamous cell carcinomas and 8/20 (40%) feline squamous cell carcinomas. These results suggest that cyclin A may have a role in the proliferation of canine malignant mammary tumors, feline mammary carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of dogs and cats, and p53 may associate with the tumorigenesis of feline mammary carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of dogs and cats.     

Analysis of genomic mutation and immunohistochemistry of platelet‐derived growth factor receptors in canine vascular tumours

We examined whether mutation of the platelet‐derived growth factor receptor protein tyrosine kinase (PDGFR)‐α and PDGFR‐β genes contributes to their overexpression in canine vascular tumours. Genomic sequences of trans‐ or juxtamembrane regions of PDGFR‐α and PDGFR‐β were analysed with immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction‐direct sequencing using DNA from paraffin‐embedded neoplastic tissues of 27 hemangiosarcomas (HSAs) and 20 hemangiomas (HAs). Immunohistochemically, 75% of the HA cases were positive for PDGFR‐α and almost most of the HA cases were negative for PDGFR‐β. Of the HSA cases, 55.6% were negative for PDGFR‐α and 63% were strongly positive for PDGFR‐β. Among the HA cases, 1 missense mutation was detected in PDGFR‐α exon 18 and 1 in PDGFR‐β exon 17. Two HSA cases had missense mutations in exon 14 and 1 in exon 17 of PDGFR‐β. Thus, genomic mutation of trans‐ or juxtamembrane regions of PDGFRs was not the main mechanism driving the activation of receptors in HSA and HA.     

Anticancer effects of resveratrol in canine hemangiosarcoma cell lines

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a highly malignant tumour with aggressive biological behaviour. HSAs are more common in dogs than other domestic animals. The median survival time of dogs with HSA remains short, even with chemotherapy and surgery. Therefore, there is a critical need to improve the adjuvant chemotherapeutic regimens to improve clinical outcomes in dogs with HSA. Resveratrol has been shown to possess strong anti‐proliferative and/or pro‐apoptotic properties in human cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, the potential anticancer effects of resveratrol have not been reported in canine HSAs. The objective of this study is to determine the growth inhibitory effects of resveratrol in HSA cells when used alone or in combination with doxorubicin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. Frog and DD‐1 canine HSA cell lines were treated with varying concentrations of resveratrol with and without doxorubicin. Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay. The expression of apoptotic proteins, activation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) were assessed by western blotting. Similar to human cancer cell lines, resveratrol markedly inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis in both HSA cell lines. Mechanistically, resveratrol activated p38 MAPK, but did not affect the AMPK or the ERK1/2 pathways. Additional experiments showed that resveratrol augmented the growth‐inhibitory and apoptotic effects of doxorubicin in both HSA cell lines. These findings suggest that resveratrol has pro‐apoptotic effects in canine HSA cells; therefore, its use as a potential adjunct therapy in canine HSA patients warrants further investigation.     

TP53 mutations in canine brain tumors

The p53 tumor suppressor gene (TP53) is the most frequently altered gene in human cancer. Mutation of the gene has been shown to be an important mechanism of p53 pathway inactivation in a variety of human brain tumors, particularly those of astrocytic origin. Genomic DNA from a series of 37 glial and 51 nonglial canine brain tumors was sequenced to determine the frequency of TP53 gene mutations involving exons 3-9. Exonic mutations were found in 3 of 88 tumors (3.4%) and specifically in 1 of 18 astrocytic tumors (5.5%). This is markedly lower than that reported in comparable human tumors, suggesting that alternative mechanisms of p53 inactivation are likely to be present if p53 function contributes significantly to oncogenesis in canine brain tumors.     

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.     

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.     

Detection of centrosome amplification as a surrogate marker of dysfunction in the p53 pathway –p53 gene mutation or MDM2 overexpression

In human and canine cancers, the inactivation of p53 protein as well as p53 gene mutation and MDM2 overexpression result in centrosome amplification that in turn contributes to chromosomal instability. To explore the usefulness of the detection of centrosome amplification as a surrogate marker of dysfunction in the p53 pathway, we systematically analysed centrosome amplification, p53 overexpression, p53 gene mutation and MDM2 overexpression in canine tumours. Centrosome amplification was detected in 16 of 51 (31%) naturally developing tumours in dogs. All the tumour specimens with aberrations in the p53 pathway, including p53 overexpression, p53 gene mutation or MDM2 overexpression, showed centrosome amplification, suggesting that the detection of centrosome amplification could serve as a preliminary surrogate marker of dysfunction in the p53 pathway.     

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.     

Enrofloxacin enhances the effects of chemotherapy in canine osteosarcoma cells with mutant and wild‐type p53

Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival time in dogs receiving adequate local control for appendicular osteosarcoma, but most dogs ultimately succumb to metastatic disease. The fluoroquinolone antibiotic enrofloxacin has been shown to inhibit survival and proliferation of canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Others have reported that fluoroquinolones may modulate cellular responses to DNA damaging agents and that these effects may be differentially mediated by p53 activity. We therefore determined p53 status and activity in three canine osteosarcoma cell lines and examined the effects of enrofloxacin when used alone or in combination with doxorubicin or carboplatin chemotherapy. Moresco and Abrams canine osteosarcoma cell lines contained mutations in p53, while no mutations were identified in the D17 cells or in a normal canine osteoblast cell line. The addition of enrofloxacin to either doxorubicin or carboplatin resulted in further reductions in osteosarcoma cell viability; this effect was apparent regardless of p53 mutational status or downstream activity.     

Radiosensitivity of canine osteosarcoma cells transfected with wild‐type p53 in vitro*

The p53 gene is one of the important tumour suppressor genes that are involved with the cell survival signal pathway. One of the major functions of the p53 protein is to organize cell cycle regulation and induction of apoptosis for cellular genetic stability. It has been documented that more than 50% of all human cancers include a p53 mutation. We evaluated the difference in radiosensitivity between upregulating the expression of canine wild‐type p53 (cp53) in cultured osteosarcoma (D17) cells and naive D17 cells in vitro. We found that upregulating transfected cp53 D17 cells increased their radiation sensitivity in vitro, and there was a significant decrease (P < 0.009) in survival between cp53‐transfected D17 cells and naive D17 cells. In this experiment, a p53 enhancement ratio (p53ER) reached approximately 3.0 at high doses. The transfected cp53 D17 cells were significantly more radiosensitive at all doses evaluated than naive D17 cells, except at 1 Gy where too few data points were available. The p53ER increased rapidly at doses less than 4 Gy, achieving a maximum of about 3.0 for doses of 4 Gy and above. This study shows the enhanced radiosensitivity of the transfected p53 at clinically relevant doses.     

Differential expression of cell cycle regulators p21, p27 and p53 in metastasizing canine mammary adenocarcinomas versus normal mammary glands

The cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27 are important regulators of cell cycle progression. To analyze their role in the malignant progression of canine mammary tumors expression levels of p27 and p21 and its major regulator p53 were compared in simple adenomas, adenocarcinomas of the mammary gland and lymph node metastases with normal mammary gland. Laser microdissection of tissue samples and real-time PCR were used for quantification of mRNA expression levels. p21 was overexpressed in adenocarcinomas, whereas adenomas and metastases expressed p21 more heterogeneously. Comparison of p21 expression in adenocarcinomas and their metastases revealed a significant decrease in expression in metastases. In contrast, p27 expression was reduced in the adenocarcinomas but heterogeneously expressed in adenomas and metastases. Taken together the results suggest that loss of p21 overexpression is associated with tumor metastasis while reduced cell cycle inhibition by p27 is associated with malignant progression.     

Inhibition of p16 tumor suppressor gene expression via promoter hypermethylation in canine lymphoid tumor cells

To investigate the epigenetic regulation of the p16 gene in canine lymphoid tumor cells, its methylation status was examined in four canine lymphoid tumor cell lines. In three canine lymphoid tumor cell lines (CLBL-1, GL-1, and UL-1) with low-level p16 mRNA expression, 20 CpG sites in the promoter region of p16 gene were consistently methylated although all of the CpG sites were not methylated in another cell line (CL-1) and normal lymph node cells. The expression level of p16 mRNA in these three cell lines was restored after cultivation in the presence of a methylation inhibitor, 5-Aza-2′-deoxycitidine, indicating inactivation of p16 gene via hypermethylation. This study revealed the inactivation of p16 gene through hypermethylation of its CpG island in a fraction of canine lymphoid tumor cells.     

p53 gene mutations occurring in spontaneous benign and malignant mammary tumors of the dog

Sixty-three cases of benign and malignant canine mammary tumors were analyzed to define the alteration of exons 5-8 for the p53 tumor suppressor gene using polymerase chain reaction direct sequence analysis with paraffin-embedded tissues. Four missense mutations were found in 38 benign mammary tumors (11%), and five missense (one tumor had two missense mutations) and one nonsense mutations were found in 25 mammary carcinomas (20%). These data suggest that the p53 gene alterations might be initiated at an early stage of canine mammary carcinogenesis and p53 mutations might be associated with malignancy. However, there was no evidence of any relationship between the p53 alterations and the histologic types of tumors or breeds of dogs.     

Anti-tumor effect of adenoviral vector-mediated p53 gene transfer on the growth of canine osteosarcoma xenografts in nude mice

We evaluated the anti-tumor effect of adenoviral vector-mediated p53 gene therapy on the growth of canine osteosarcoma xenografts formed in nude mice. Nude mice were subcutaneously transplanted with cells of 2 P53 mutant canine osteosarcoma cell lines, POS and CHOS. The osteosarcoma xenografts were injected with either an adenoviral vector that expresses canine wild-type P53 (AxCA-cp53) or LacZ (AxCA-LacZ). Tumor growth was significantly inhibited in the xenografts injected with AxCA-cp53 in comparison to those injected with AxCA-LacZ or PBS during the observation period of 27 days. An increase of the amount of p21(WAF1/CDKN1A) mRNA, and the number of apoptotic cells was shown in the tumors injected with AxCA-cp53 in comparison to those injected with AxCA-LacZ or PBS. The present study revealed that the adenoviral vector-mediated p53 gene transfer had an anti-tumor effect in canine osteosarcoma xenografts formed in nude mice.     

Immunohistochemical expression of dogTERT in canine testicular tumours in relation to PCNA,ki67 and p53 expression.

The objective of the study was to determine the immunohistochemical expression of canine TERT in canine testicular tumours comparing two different antibodies for TERT, and to correlate them with well established markers specific to dividing cells such as PCNA and ki67, and with expression of the p53 tumour suppressor gene. The study included 36 cases of canine testicular tumours, which were categorized as 12 Sertoli Cell Tumours (SCT), 20 seminomas, 3 interstitial cell tumours and 1 mixed germ cell-sex cord stromal tumour (MT). Two antibodies for hTERT were examined; a highly specific TERT antibody, RCK-hTERT, was evaluated for the first time. Immunodetection of RCK-hTERT was observed in 31% of tumours examined (6/20 Seminomas, 4/12 SCT, 1/3 interstitial cell tumour and 0/1 mixed germ cell-sex cord stromal tumour), while the NCL-hTERT in 67% of them (15/20 Seminomas, 6/12 SCT, 3/3 interstitial cell tumour and 0/1 ΜΤ). PCNA immunoreactivity was detected in all cases. Regarding ki67, 3 SCT, 12 seminomas and all interstitial cell tumours showed clear immunoreaction. p53 immunoreactivity was detected in 6 SCT, 15 seminomas and all interstitial cell tumours. The immunohistochemical expression of both TERT antibodies are discussed and compared in order to clarify their potential usefulness in canine testicular malignancies in relation to the expression of well known cell cycle markers. Our results indicate that TERT and PCNA are useful proliferation markers but not helpful to evaluate prognosis. Instead of that ki67 and p53 could be used for predicting aggressiveness in this group of tumours     

Expression of Cyclins and Cyclin‐Dependent Kinase Inhibitors in Granulosa Cells from Bovine Ovary

The regulation of granulosa cell proliferation is complex, and it is essential for normal follicular development in mammals. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of cyclins and their inhibitors in the granulosa cells of follicles at different developmental stages. Follicles were classified into three groups: oestrogen‐inactive dominant follicles (EIDs), oestrogen‐active dominant follicles (EADs) and pre‐ovulatory follicles (POs). The expression of CCND2 (cyclin D2) mRNA was significantly higher in granulosa cells from EADs and POs than in those from EIDs. The expression of CCND3 (cyclin D3) mRNA was significantly higher in granulosa cells from EADs than in those from other follicles. CCND1 (cyclin D1), CCNE1 (cyclin E1) and CCNE2 (cyclin E2) mRNA expression did not differ among the different follicular stages. The expression of CDKN1A (p21^cip1) and CDKN1B (p27^kip1) mRNA was significantly higher in granulosa cells from EIDs and POs, respectively, than in those from other follicles. Expression of CDKN2D (p19^INK4d) mRNA did not differ among the different follicular stages. Taken together, our study suggested that cyclins and their inhibitors are associated with granulosa cell proliferation at specific follicular developmental stages.