Expression of connexins 26 and 43 in canine hyperplastic and neoplastic mammary glands. 2005

L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária-CEP: 05508-900, São Paulo--SP, Brazil.

Gap junctions are the only communicating junctions found in animal tissues and are composed of proteins known as connexins. Alterations in connexin expression have been associated with oncogenesis; reported studies in rodent and human mammary glands, which normally express connexins 26 and 43, confirm these alterations in malignancies. Mammary neoplasms represent the second most frequent neoplasm in dogs, and since there are no reports on the study of connexins in canine mammary glands, the present study investigated the expression of connexins 26 and 43 in normal, hyperplastic, and neoplastic mammary glands of this species, to verify if altered patterns of connexin staining are related to higher cell proliferation and malignant phenotypes. A total of 4 normal, 8 hyperplastic mammary glands, 9 benign, and 51 malignant mammary gland neoplasms were submitted for the immunostaining of connexins 26 and 43, E-cadherin, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Normal, hyperplastic, and benign neoplastic mammary glands showed a punctate pattern for connexin 26 and 43 staining and an intercellular E-cadherin staining. Malignant neoplasms, especially the most aggressive cases with high cell proliferation rates, presented either fewer gap junction spots on the cell membranes or increased cytoplasmic immunostaining. Malignant tumors also expressed a less intense immunostaining of E-cadherin; the expression of this adhesion molecule is important for the transportation of connexins to cell membranes and in forming communicating gap junctions. Deficient expression of E-cadherin could be related to the aberrant connexin localization and may contribute to the malignant phenotype. In conclusion, the expression and distribution of connexins and E-cadherin are inversely correlated to cell proliferation in malignant mammary neoplasms of dogs and may well be related to their more aggressive histologic type and biologic behavior.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006965 Hyperplasia An increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ without tumor formation. It differs from HYPERTROPHY, which is an increase in bulk without an increase in the number of cells. Hyperplasias
D007150 Immunohistochemistry Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents. Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D004283 Dog Diseases Diseases of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). This term does not include diseases of wild dogs, WOLVES; FOXES; and other Canidae for which the heading CARNIVORA is used. Canine Diseases,Canine Disease,Disease, Canine,Disease, Dog,Diseases, Canine,Diseases, Dog,Dog Disease
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog
D005260 Female Females
D000072259 Connexin 26 A gap junction protein encoded by the Gap Junction Beta 2 or GJB2 gene. In the cochlea and epidermis, its hexamers form channels between cells that open to allow cell-to-cell diffusion of small molecules as well as recycling of potassium. Mutations in Connexin 26 are associated with congenital SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS. Connexin Cx26,Connexin beta-2,Gap Junction beta-2 protein,beta2 Connexin,26, Connexin,Connexin beta 2,Connexin, beta2,Cx26, Connexin,Gap Junction beta 2 protein,beta-2, Connexin
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015674 Mammary Neoplasms, Animal Tumors or cancer of the MAMMARY GLAND in animals (MAMMARY GLANDS, ANIMAL). Animal Mammary Carcinoma,Mammary Carcinoma, Animal,Mammary Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Mammary,Animal Mammary Carcinomas,Animal Mammary Neoplasm,Animal Mammary Neoplasms,Carcinoma, Animal Mammary,Carcinomas, Animal Mammary,Mammary Carcinomas, Animal,Mammary Neoplasm,Mammary Neoplasm, Animal,Neoplasm, Animal Mammary,Neoplasm, Mammary,Neoplasms, Animal Mammary
D015820 Cadherins Calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins. They are important in the formation of ADHERENS JUNCTIONS between cells. Cadherins are classified by their distinct immunological and tissue specificities, either by letters (E- for epithelial, N- for neural, and P- for placental cadherins) or by numbers (cadherin-12 or N-cadherin 2 for brain-cadherin). Cadherins promote cell adhesion via a homophilic mechanism as in the construction of tissues and of the whole animal body. Cadherin,E-Cadherins,Epithelial-Cadherin,Liver Cell Adhesion Molecules,N-Cadherins,Neural Cadherin,P-Cadherins,Uvomorulin,Cadherin-1,Cadherin-2,Cadherin-3,E-Cadherin,Epithelial-Cadherins,Liver Cell Adhesion Molecule,N-Cadherin,Neural Cadherins,P-Cadherin,Placental Cadherins,Cadherin 1,Cadherin 2,Cadherin 3,Cadherin, Neural,Cadherins, Neural,Cadherins, Placental,E Cadherin,E Cadherins,Epithelial Cadherin,Epithelial Cadherins,N Cadherin,N Cadherins,P Cadherin,P Cadherins
D015972 Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in neoplastic tissue. Neoplastic Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Neoplastic,Regulation, Gene Expression, Neoplastic

Related Publications

L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
August 1995, Development, growth & differentiation,
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
January 2002, Journal of comparative pathology,
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
December 2019, Veterinary sciences,
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
December 2010, Veterinary and comparative oncology,
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
September 2009, Veterinary pathology,
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
February 2014, Acta orthopaedica,
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
July 2006, Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997),
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
April 2001, Histochemistry and cell biology,
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
June 2009, Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997),
L N Torres, and J M Matera, and C H Vasconcellos, and J L Avanzo, and F J Hernandez-Blazquez, and M L Z Dagli
November 2008, Archives of histology and cytology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!