|
        |
     |
| |
J Vet Sci. 2007 Jun;8(2):111-115 |
|
| |
Immunohistochemical expression of h-telomerase reverse transcriptase in canine and feline meningiomas
Luciana Mandrioli1,*, Serena Panarese1, Alessandro Cesari1, Maria Teresa Mandara2, Paolo Stefano Marcato1, Giuliano Bettini1 |
| |
1Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Italy 2Department of Biopathological Science and Hygiene of Animal and Food Production, School of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia, Italy
* luciana.mandrioli@unibo.it |
| |
Telomere length maintenance is regarded as a
fundamental step in tumorigenesis, as most human brain
tumors, including meningiomas, stabilize the ends of their
chromosomes using telomerase. This investigation
represents an introduction to telomerase expression in
canine and feline meningiomas. Twenty-five archived
cases (14 dogs and 11 cats) were immunohistochemically
tested for human-telomerase reverse transcriptase (h-
TERT), scored, and quantified; furthermore, mitoses
were counted on sections stained with a modified toluidine
blue. The h-TERT antibody immunolabelled the nucleus
and nucleolus of meningeal neoplastic cells, with an
intensity ranging from mild to strong and a speckled
distribution; a significantly higher expression in cats was
noted, while no significant association between h-TERT
immunolabelling and sex or histotype was evident in dogs
or cats. The telomerase enzyme represents a fundamental
parameter of potential malignant transformation, which
may occur independently of the signal to proliferate,
thereby supplying the cells with unlimited growth
capabilities. Telomerase expression could be a prognostic
indicator independent of the kinetic parameters, although
this should be evaluated using a larger dataset with
available clinical information.
|
|
| |
|