J Vet Sci.  2007 Jun;8(2):111-115. 10.4142/jvs.2007.8.2.111.

Immunohistochemical expression of h-telomerase reverse transcriptase in canine and feline meningiomas

• Mandrioli
• Panarese S
• Cesari A
• Mandara MT
• Marcato PS
• Bettini G

• KMID: 1089660
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2007.8.2.111

Abstract

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.

Keyword

cat; dog; h-telomerase reverse transcriptase; immunohistochemistry; meningioma

MeSH Terms

Animals
Brain Neoplasms/enzymology/pathology/*veterinary
Cat Diseases/*enzymology/pathology
Cats
Dog Diseases/*enzymology/pathology
Dogs
Female
Immunohistochemistry/veterinary
Male
Meningioma/enzymology/pathology/*veterinary
Mitosis/physiology
Regression Analysis
Telomerase/*biosynthesis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Dog. Immunohistochemical staining of h-TERT in the nucleus (A), nucleolus (B), and cytoplasm (C) of neoplastic meningothelial cells. DAB chromogen. Counterstain with Papanicolaou hematoxylin. A; × 40, B & C; × 63.

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  Fig. 2 Dog. A low mitotic activity (L group) is displayed. Modified toluidine blue stain. × 63.

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