Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, epidermal growth factor receptor, cyclooxygenase-2, survivin, E-cadherin and Ki-67 in canine nasal carcinomas and sarcomas - a pilot study.

Background: Malignant (intra-) nasal tumors (NTs) are the most common cause of chronic nasal discharge in dogs. Besides radiation therapy, palliative therapy is necessary in some dogs. Therefore, studies on receptor expression have supported the utility of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in dogs with nasal carcinomas.

Transcription profiling of feline mammary carcinomas and derived cell lines reveals biomarkers and drug targets associated with metabolic and cell cycle pathways.

The molecular heterogeneity of feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) represents a prognostic and therapeutic challenge. RNA-Seq-based comparative transcriptomic profiling serves to identify recurrent and exclusive differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across sample types and molecular subtypes. Using mass-parallel RNA-Seq, we identified DEGs and performed comparative function-based analysis across 15 tumours (four basal-like triple-negative [TN], eight normal-like TN, and three luminal B fHER2 negative [LB fHER2-]), two cell lines (CL, TiHo-0906, and TiHo-1403) isolated from the primary tumours (LB fHER2-) of two cats included in this study, and 13 healthy mammary tissue controls.

Sox9, Hopx, and survivin and tuft cell marker DCLK1 expression in normal canine intestine and in intestinal adenoma and adenocarcinoma.

Self-renewal of the intestinal epithelium originates from stem cells located at the crypt base. Upregulation of various stem cell markers in intestinal epithelial neoplasms indicates a potential role of stem cells in tumorigenesis. In this study, the immunoreactivity of potential intestinal stem cell markers ( box transcription factor 9 [Sox9], homeodomain-only protein [Hopx], survivin) and tuft cell marker doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) in normal canine intestine and intestinal epithelial neoplasms was investigated.

Meningoencephalomyelitis of Unknown Origin in Cats: A Case Series Describing Clinical and Pathological Findings.

Unlabelled: Meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO) is an umbrella term describing inflammatory changes of the central nervous system (CNS) with suspected non-infectious etiology. Diagnosis of MUO mostly remains presumed in a clinical setting. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of CNS tissue represent additional tools for detection of inflammation and the exclusion of specific infectious agents.

Publisher Correction: Analysis of Copy-Number Variations and Feline Mammary Carcinoma Survival.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Characterization of six canine prostate adenocarcinoma and three transitional cell carcinoma cell lines derived from primary tumor tissues as well as metastasis.

Canine prostate adenocarcinoma (PAC) and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of prostate and urinary bladder are highly invasive and metastatic tumors of closely neighbored organs. Cell lines are valuable tools to investigate tumor mechanisms and therapeutic approaches in vitro. PAC in dogs is infrequent, difficult to differentiate from TCC and usually characterized by poor prognosis, enhancing the value of the few available cell lines.

Analysis of Copy-Number Variations and Feline Mammary Carcinoma Survival.

Feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) are highly malignant. As the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) are short, prognostication is crucial. Copy-number variations (CNVs) analysis by next-generation sequencing serves to identify critical cancer-related genomic regions.

Canine primary jejunal and colonic epithelial cells predominantly express TLR5 and TLR9 but do not change TLR expression pattern after stimulation with certain Toll-like receptor ligands.

The intestinal mucosa is in contact with abundant luminal antigens and coordinates immune responses to differentiate commensals from pathogens. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) not only represent a physical barrier but also an immunologically important cell type that recognizes microbe-associated molecular patterns via Toll-like receptors (TLR). The importance of TLR expression has been elucidated for intestinal disorders in humans, mice and dogs.

TiHo-0906: a new feline mammary cancer cell line with molecular, morphological, and immunocytological characteristics of epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

Feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) with anaplastic and malignant spindle cells histologically resemble the human metaplastic breast carcinoma (hMBC), spindle-cell subtype. hMBCs display epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics. Herein we report the establishment and characterization of a cell line (TiHoCMglAdcar0906; TiHo-0906) exhibiting EMT-like properties derived from an FMC with anaplastic and malignant spindle cells.

Cruciate ligament degeneration and stifle joint synovitis in 56 dogs with intact cranial cruciate ligaments: Correlation of histological findings and numbers and phenotypes of inflammatory cells with age, body weight and breed.

The majority of dogs with ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments (crCLs) have inflammatory changes of the stifle joint suggesting that synovitis is an important factor which is involved in the development of degenerative ligament changes. Detailed information is not available concerning the possible occurrence of inflammatory changes in the stifle joint synovium of dogs with macroscopically intact crCLs and its correlation with presence and severity of degenerative changes of the crCLs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine post mortem tissue samples of 56 dogs with non-ruptured crCLs histologically for the presence of inflammatory and degenerative changes of the stifle joint synovium and cruciate ligaments, respectively.

Immunohistochemical characterization of gastrointestinal macrophages/phagocytes in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and non-IBD dogs.

Intestinal Mϕ play a pivotal role in the maintenance of gut homeostasis, but can also contribute to inflammation such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In contrast to human tissues, little is known about phenotypes of Mϕ in the canine gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, an immunohistochemical study was performed using Abs against Mϕ-associated molecules (Cluster of differentiation (CD)64, CD163, CD204, ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1, L1 Ag, and MHC II) on stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon from non-IBD dogs.

Plexiform Vasculopathy in Feline Cervical Lymph Nodes.

Plexiform vasculopathy refers to an endothelial proliferative disorder affecting cervical or inguinal lymph nodes of cats. The cause of this disorder and the origin of the proliferating endothelial cells are still unknown. In 4 cats with a history of a slowly growing, well-demarcated, nonpainful mass adjacent to the thyroid gland, an enlarged dark brown to red lymph node was removed.

Effects of a Grapevine Shoot Extract Containing Resveratrol and Resveratrol Oligomers on Intestinal Adenoma Development in Mice: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Scope: Evidence suggests that the dietary consumption of plant extracts containing polyphenols might help prevent the onset of cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, the chemopreventive and antiproliferative efficacy of a grapevine shoot extract (Vineatrol®30) containing resveratrol and resveratrol oligomers is investigated in vivo and in vitro.

Methods And Results: The in vivo study is performed using Apc mice on a high-fat diet, which represents a model of human adenomatous polyposis, while the potential of the extract as well as some of its isolated constituents to inhibit intestinal adenoma cell proliferation in vitro is investigated using APC10.

Zoonotic intestinal helminths interact with the canine immune system by modulating T cell responses and preventing dendritic cell maturation.

Parasite co-evolution alongside the mammalian immune system gave rise to several modulatory strategies by which they prevent exaggerated pathology and facilitate a longer worm survival. As little is known about the immunoregulatory potential of the zoonotic canine parasites Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis in the natural host, the present study aimed to investigate whether their larval excretory-secretory (ES) products can modulate the canine immune system. We demonstrated TcES to increase the frequency of CD4+ Foxp3 T cells, while both AcES and TcES were associated with elevated Helios expression in Foxp3 lymphocytes.

Heterogeneity of macrophages in canine histiocytic ulcerative colitis.

Histiocytic ulcerative colitis (HUC) is a chronic enteropathy which most notably occurs in Boxer dogs and French bulldogs. The inflamed mucosa is hallmarked by large, foamy, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive macrophages infiltrating the colonic mucosa. As little is known about their origin and phenotype, an immunohistochemical study was performed using different macrophage markers.

Longitudinal Claudin Gene Expression Analyses in Canine Mammary Tissues and Thereof Derived Primary Cultures and Cell Lines.

Human and canine mammary tumours show partial claudin expression deregulations. Further, claudins have been used for directed therapeutic approaches. However, the development of claudin targeting approaches requires stable claudin expressing cell lines.

Cutaneous form of maculopapular mastocytosis in a foal.

Background: Cutaneous mastocytosis is a rare benign disease occurring in domestic animals and humans. In previous reports, dermal findings in foals were accompanied by systemic mast cell infiltrations, whereas lesions in human cutaneous mastocytosis, including urticaria pigmentosa and solitary mastocytoma, are usually restricted to the skin.

Objectives: To describe a new variant of equine cutaneous maculopapular mastocytosis lacking systemic involvement.

Histamine Receptor Expression in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Dogs.

Histamine is an important mediator of many physiological processes including gastrointestinal function that acts via four different histamine receptors (H1R to H4R). Elevated histamine levels and increased HR messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) have been shown in humans with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome or allergic intestinal diseases. As there is limited knowledge concerning the distribution of histamine receptors (HR) in dogs, one aim of this study was to investigate the expression of histamine 1 receptor (H1R), histamine 2 receptor (H2R) and histamine 4 receptor (H4R) in the canine gastrointestinal tract at protein level using immunohistochemistry.

Claudin-1, -3, -4 and -7 gene expression analyses in canine prostate carcinoma and mammary tissue derived cell lines.

Claudins (CLDNs) are transmembrane proteins localised in the cell membrane of epithelial cells composing a structural and functional component of the tight junction protein complexes. In canine tumors deregulations of the CLDN expression patterns were described immunohistochemically. Targeting of claudin proteins has further been evaluated to establish novel therapeutic approaches by directed claudin binding.

Congenital Ichthyosis in 14 Great Dane Puppies With a New Presentation.

The present study describes a generalized congenital skin condition in 14 Great Dane puppies. Macroscopically, all dogs showed generalized gray to yellow scaling and skin wrinkles on the head and all 4 extremities. Skin sections were histologically examined using hematoxylin and eosin, Heidenhain's Azan, and Sudan red III staining methods and by conducting the alcian blue/periodic acid Schiff (AB/PAS) reaction technique on sections.

Prevalence of the Prefoldin Subunit 5 Gene Deletion in Canine Mammary Tumors.

Background: A somatic deletion at the proximal end of canine chromosome 27 (CFA27) was recently reported in 50% of malignant mammary tumors. This region harbours the tumor suppressor gene prefoldin subunit 5 (PFDN5) and the deletion correlated with a higher Ki-67 score. PFDN5 has been described to repress c-MYC and is, therefore, a candidate tumor-suppressor and cancer-driver gene in canine mammary cancer.

Pathology in Captive Wild Felids at German Zoological Gardens.

This retrospective study provides an overview on spontaneous diseases occurring in 38 captive wild felids submitted for necropsy by German zoological gardens between 2004 and 2013. Species included 18 tigers, 8 leopards, 7 lions, 3 cheetahs and 2 cougars with an age ranging from 0.5 to 22 years.

[Myocardiosis in a 6-month-old Lawson's Dragon (Pogona henrylawsonii)].

In a 6-month-old, chronically inappetent Lawsons's Dragon (Pogona henrylawsonii) with stunted growth a hyperdense cardiac region was found using radiology and computed tomography. At necropsy a profound necrosis of the myocardium with dystrophic calcification was diagnosed. In contrast to the frequently seen metastatic mineralisation of soft tissues, mainly due to poor husbandry, primary tissue destruction is the cause for dystrophic calcification.

Canine gut dendritic cells in the steady state and in inflammatory bowel disease.

Alongside the intestinal border, dendritic cells (DCs) sample large amounts of endogenous and potentially pathogenic antigens followed by initiation of protective immune responses or induction of tolerance. Breakdown of oral tolerance towards commensal bacteria is suggested to be crucial for the development of both human and canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to investigate canine intestinal DCs in the steady state and in dogs with IBD using multicolour immunofluorescence.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour in a dog.

A 1-year-old German shepherd dog was presented with paraparesis quickly progressing to paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large mass beneath the thoracolumbar vertebral column infiltrating the spinal canal and resulting in severe extradural compression of the spinal cord. Microscopically, this comprised a cell-rich unencapsulated tumour supported by fine bands of a fibrovascular stroma and occasionally forming primitive rosettes.