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Altamura G, Borzacchiello G. Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab displays potential anti-cancer activities in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1040552. [PMID: 36467642 PMCID: PMC9712204 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1040552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is a malignant tumor characterized by an aggressive behavior and poor prognosis, for which no fully effective therapies are available. Studies of comparative oncology suggest that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may be a therapeutic target in FOSCC, similarly to human head and neck SCC (HNSCC), where the use of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab has entered the clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Cetuximab in three validated preclinical models of FOSCC (SCCF1, SCCF2, SCCF3). Sequencing of tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR in the cell lines revealed a wild-type genotype, excluding the presence of activating mutations. Western blotting experiments demonstrated that Cetuximab inhibited activation of EGFR and its downstream kinase Akt in SCCF1, SCCF2 and SCCF3 along with HNSCC cell line CAL 27 included as control. Importantly, CCK-8 and trypan blue exclusion assays revealed that treatment with Cetuximab caused a decrease in cell proliferation and cell viability in all cell lines, with a general dose- and time-dependent trend. Cell death induced by Cetuximab was associated with cleavage of PARP, indicating occurrence of apoptosis. Taken together, our data suggest that Cetuximab exerts potential anti-cancer activities in FOSCC, paving the way for future translational studies aimed at assessing its employment in the therapy of this lethal cancer of cats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giuseppe Borzacchiello
- General Pathology and Anatomic Pathology Section, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Expression of Cell-Cycle Regulatory Proteins pRb, Cyclin D1, and p53 Is Not Associated with Recurrence Rates of Equine Sarcoids. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9090474. [PMID: 36136690 PMCID: PMC9504470 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9090474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcoids are among the most common tumors diagnosed in equids; their association with bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) infection has been widely reported, but the mechanism of carcinogenesis has not been fully elucidated. To verify whether BPV infection causes dysregulation of the pRb-Cyclin D1-p16CDKN2A-p53 pathway as reported for human papillomavirus (HPV), the study employed immunohistochemistry to test 55 equine sarcoid biopsies for the expression of pRb, Cyclin D1, and p53 cell cycle regulatory proteins and to evaluate the proliferative rate through Ki67. High Cyclin D1 and pRb expression were observed in 51% and 80% of cases, respectively, while low expression was observed in 49% and 20% of cases, respectively. Significantly higher Ki67 proliferation indexes were observed in fibroblastic, nodular, and mixed sarcoids compared to the occult and verrucous. High proliferation was significantly associated with high Cyclin D1 expression. In contrast with previous studies, p53 positivity was not observed in the cases examined in this study. Moreover, follow-up analysis revealed that fibroblastic, mixed sarcoids were associated with significantly higher local recurrence rates while the verrucous subtype was associated with higher rates of new sarcoid development at distant sites.
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Altamura G, Degli Uberti B, Galiero G, De Luca G, Power K, Licenziato L, Maiolino P, Borzacchiello G. The Small Molecule BIBR1532 Exerts Potential Anti-cancer Activities in Preclinical Models of Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through Inhibition of Telomerase Activity and Down-Regulation of TERT. Front Vet Sci 2021; 7:620776. [PMID: 33553285 PMCID: PMC7855307 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.620776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase activity (TA) is a main feature of cancer, contributing to cell immortalization by causing telomeres dysfunction. BIBR1532 is a potent telomerase inhibitor that showed potential anti-tumor activities in several types of cancer, by triggering replicative senescence and apoptosis. In a previous work, we detected, for the first time, TERT expression and TA in preclinical models of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC); therefore, we aimed at extending our investigation by testing the effects of treatment with BIBR1532, in order to explore the role of telomerase in this tumor and foreshadow the possibility of it being considered as a future therapeutic target. In the present study, treatment of FOSCC cell lines SCCF1, SCCF2, and SCCF3 with BIBR1532 resulted in successful inhibition of TA, with subsequent cell growth stoppage and decrease in cell viability. Molecular data showed that up-regulation of cell cycle inhibitor p21, unbalancing of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and down-regulation of survival gene Survivin were mostly involved in the observed cellular events. Moreover, BIBR1532 diminished the expression of TERT and its transcriptional activator cMyc, resulting in the down-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phospho-ERK/ERK ratio, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-1/-2 and−9, likely as a consequence of an impairment of TERT extra-telomeric functions. Taken together, our data suggest that BIBR1532 exerts multiple anti-cancer activities in FOSCC by inhibiting telomerase pathway and interfering with signaling routes involved in cell proliferation, cell survival, and invasion, paving the way for future translational studies aimed at evaluating its possible employment in the treatment of this severe tumor of cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennaro Altamura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Galiero
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna De Luca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Karen Power
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Licenziato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Maiolino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borzacchiello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Ogłuszka M, Starzyński RR, Pierzchała M, Otrocka-Domagała I, Raś A. Equine Sarcoids-Causes, Molecular Changes, and Clinicopathologic Features: A Review. Vet Pathol 2021; 58:472-482. [PMID: 33461443 DOI: 10.1177/0300985820985114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Equine sarcoid is the most common skin tumor of horses. Clinically, it occurs as a locally invasive, fibroblastic, wart-like lesion of equine skin, which has 6 clinical classes: occult, verrucose, nodular, fibroblastic, mixed, and malignant. Sarcoids may be single but multiple lesions are more frequent. The typical histological feature is increased density of dermal fibroblasts which form interlacing bundles and whorls within the dermis. Lesions are mostly persistent, resist therapy, and tend to recur following treatment. In general, sarcoids are not fatal but their location, size, and progression to the more aggressive form may lead to the withdrawal of a horse from use and serious infringement of their welfare leading to the loss of valuable animals. Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) type 1 and less commonly type 2 contribute to the development of equine sarcoid. The viral genome and proteins are detected in a high percentage of cases. Furthermore, viral oncoprotein activity leads to changes in the fibroblastic tissue similar to changes seen in other types of tumors. Equine sarcoids are characterized by a loss of tumor suppressor activity and changes allowing abnormal formation of the affected tissue, as well as y immune defense abnormalities that weaken the host's immune response. This impaired immune response to BPV infection appears to be crucial for the development of lesions that do not spontaneously regress, as occurs in BPV-infected cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Ogłuszka
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the 49559Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland
| | - Rafał Radosław Starzyński
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the 49559Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland
| | - Mariusz Pierzchała
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the 49559Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland
| | | | - Andrzej Raś
- 49674University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
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Altamura G, Martano M, Licenziato L, Maiolino P, Borzacchiello G. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) Expression, Telomerase Activity, and Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP)-1/-2/-9 in Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines Associated With Felis catus Papillomavirus Type-2 Infection. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:148. [PMID: 32292795 PMCID: PMC7118734 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activity contributes to cell immortalization by avoiding telomere shortening at each cell division; indeed, its catalytic subunit telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is overexpressed in many tumors, including human oral squamous cell carcinoma (hOSCC). In these tumors, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a group of zinc-dependent endopeptidases involved in cell migration, contribute to invasive potential of cancer cells. A proportion of hOSCC is associated with infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPVs), whose E6 oncogene enhances TERT and MMPs expression, thus promoting cancer progression. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is a malignant tumor with highly invasive phenotype; however, studies on telomerase activity, TERT, and MMPs expression are scarce. In this study, we demonstrate telomerase activity, expression of TERT, and its transcriptional activator cMyc along with expression of MMP-1, -2, and -9 in FOSCC-derived cell lines SCCF2 and SCCF3, suggesting a contribution by these pathways in cell immortalization and invasion in these tumors. Recent studies suggest that a sub-group of FOSCC as well as SCCF2 and SCCF3 are associated with Felis catus PV type-2 (FcaPV-2) infection. However, in this work, FcaPV-2 E6 gene knock-down caused no shift in either TERT, cMyc, or MMPs levels, suggesting that, unlike its human counterpart, the viral oncogene plays no role in their regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennaro Altamura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Manuela Martano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Licenziato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Maiolino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borzacchiello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Altamura G, Power K, Martano M, Degli Uberti B, Galiero G, De Luca G, Maiolino P, Borzacchiello G. Felis catus papillomavirus type-2 E6 binds to E6AP, promotes E6AP/p53 binding and enhances p53 proteasomal degradation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17529. [PMID: 30510267 PMCID: PMC6277439 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35723-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
E6 from high risk human papillomaviruses (HR HPVs) promotes ubiquitination and degradation of p53 tumour suppressor by mediating its binding to ubiquitin ligase E6AP in a ternary complex, contributing to cell transformation in cervical cancer. We have previously shown that Felis catus papillomavirus type −2 (FcaPV-2) E6 is expressed in feline squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and displays the ability to bind p53 and decrease its protein levels in transfected CRFK cells. However, the mechanism of p53 downregulation has not yet been characterized. Here we show that FcaPV-2 E6 bound to E6AP, which in turn was bound by p53 exclusively in cells expressing the viral oncoprotein (CRFKE6). Furthermore, p53 was highly poly-ubiquitinated and underwent accumulation upon E6AP gene knockdown in CRFKE6. Half-life experiments and proteasome inhibition treatments indicated that down-regulation of p53 protein in CRFKE6 was due to accelerated proteasomal degradation. E6AP/p53 binding was also demonstrated in two feline SCC cell lines expressing FcaPV-2 E6, where p53 protein levels and poly-ubiquitination degree were proportional to E6 mRNA levels. The data obtained in both artificial and spontaneous in vitro models suggest that FcaPV-2 E6 degrades p53 through a molecular mechanism similar to HR HPVs, possibly contributing to the development of feline SCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennaro Altamura
- Department of Veterinary medicine and Animal productions - University of Naples Federico II - Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - Karen Power
- Department of Veterinary medicine and Animal productions - University of Naples Federico II - Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - Manuela Martano
- Department of Veterinary medicine and Animal productions - University of Naples Federico II - Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - Barbara Degli Uberti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, Naples, 80055, Italy
| | - Giorgio Galiero
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, Naples, 80055, Italy
| | - Giovanna De Luca
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute 2, Portici, Naples, 80055, Italy
| | - Paola Maiolino
- Department of Veterinary medicine and Animal productions - University of Naples Federico II - Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Borzacchiello
- Department of Veterinary medicine and Animal productions - University of Naples Federico II - Via Veterinaria 1, Naples, 80137, Italy.
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Expression and activation of platelet-derived growth factor β receptor, mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in canine mammary tumours. Res Vet Sci 2017; 110:29-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Effects of synergistic massage and physical exercise on the expression of angiogenic markers in rat tendons. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:878095. [PMID: 24900996 PMCID: PMC4037120 DOI: 10.1155/2014/878095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Physical exercise and massage are regarded as key factors in regulating tendon structure. However, information on the mechanism through which massage influences the structure and biology of a tendon is scarce. In this study, we attempted to define the impact of these two activities on rat tendons by using morphological and molecular techniques, determining the expression of VEGF-A, FGF-2, and CD34 in the tendons of rats subjected to 10 weeks of physical exercise (running) with massage of varied duration. The group of rats that was trained and massaged during the entire study was characterized by the highest expression of these markers, compared to the rats subjected to massage before training and to the control group subjected to physical exercises only. The greatest significant differences, compared to the control, were noted in the expression of all the studied markers at mRNA level, and in the case of VEGF-A, at protein level, in the third and fifth weeks of the experiment. The results of this study could point to the synergistic impact of simultaneous massage and physical exercise on the expression of angiogenesis markers in rat tendons.
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