Abbate Jessica Maria, Giannetto Alessia, Arfuso Francesca, Brunetti Barbara, Lanteri Giovanni
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Papardo, 98166 Messina, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2022 Oct 22;12(21):2898. doi: 10.3390/ani12212898.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can act as oncogenes or oncosuppressor genes, and their involvement in nearly all cancer-associated processes makes these small molecules promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer, as well as specific targets for cancer therapy. This study aimed to investigate the expression of 7 miRNAs (miR-18a, miR-18b, miR-22, miR-124, miR-145, miR-21, miR-146b) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded canine mammary tumors (CMTs) by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Twenty-six mammary samples were selected, including 22 CMTs (7 benign; 15 malignant) and 4 control samples (3 normal mammary gland and 1 case of lobular hyperplasia). Oncogenic miR-18a, miR-18b and miR-21 were significantly upregulated in malignant tumors compared with control tissues (p < 0.05). Conversely, oncosuppressor miR-146b was significantly downregulated in benign and malignant mammary tumors compared with control samples (p < 0.05) while, no group-related differences in the expression levels of miR-22, miR-124 and miR-145 were found (p > 0.05). Upregulated miRNAs found here, may regulate genes involved in receptor-mediated carcinogenesis and proteoglycan remodeling in cancer; while miRNA with reduced expression can regulate genes involved in Toll-like receptor and MAPK signaling pathways. According to the results obtained in the current study, the oncogenic and oncosuppressor miRNAs analyzed here are dysregulated in CMTs and the dysregulation of miRNA targets may lead to specific altered cellular processes and key pathways involved in carcinogenesis. Of note, since oncogenic miRNAs predicted to regulate neoplastic cell proliferation and hormonal activities, they may play an active role in neoplastic transformation and/or progression, having mechanistic and prognostic relevance in CMTs.
微小RNA(miRNA)可作为癌基因或抑癌基因,它们参与了几乎所有与癌症相关的过程,这使得这些小分子成为癌症中很有前景的诊断和预后生物标志物,以及癌症治疗的特定靶点。本研究旨在通过定量逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-qPCR)研究7种miRNA(miR-18a、miR-18b、miR-22、miR-124、miR-145、miR-21、miR-146b)在福尔马林固定、石蜡包埋的犬乳腺肿瘤(CMT)中的表达。选取了26个乳腺样本,包括22个CMT(7个良性;15个恶性)和4个对照样本(3个正常乳腺组织和1例小叶增生)。与对照组织相比,致癌性miR-18a、miR-18b和miR-21在恶性肿瘤中显著上调(p<0.05)。相反,与对照样本相比,抑癌性miR-146b在良性和恶性乳腺肿瘤中显著下调(p<0.05),而miR-22、miR-124和miR-145的表达水平未发现组间差异(p>0.05)。此处发现上调的miRNA可能调控参与受体介导的致癌作用和癌症中蛋白聚糖重塑的基因;而表达降低的miRNA可调控参与Toll样受体和丝裂原活化蛋白激酶信号通路的基因。根据本研究获得的结果,此处分析的致癌性和抑癌性miRNA在CMT中表达失调,miRNA靶点的失调可能导致参与致癌作用的特定细胞过程和关键途径发生改变。值得注意的是,由于预测致癌性miRNA可调控肿瘤细胞增殖和激素活性,它们可能在肿瘤转化和/或进展中发挥积极作用,在CMT中具有机制和预后相关性。