Leandri Rebecca, Power Karen, Buonocore Sara, De Vico Gionata
Department of Biology, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Vicinale Cupa Cinthia 21, 80216 Napoli, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Sep 9;14(17):2619. doi: 10.3390/ani14172619.
Iron is a key element in spermatogenesis; its metabolic pathway in the testis is strictly regulated. Alterations in iron metabolism are linked to various diseases, including cancer, and changes in iron metabolism-related proteins have been observed in multiple human, mouse and canine tumors. There is limited knowledge about iron metabolism in canine non-neoplastic and neoplastic testes. This study aimed to explore the immunohistochemical expression of molecules involved in iron uptake and storage [Transferrin Receptor 1 (TfR1), ferritin (FTH1), nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4)] and PCNA in canine non-neoplastic and neoplastic testicular samples. Non-neoplastic testes showed moderate TfR1 expression in developing germ cells and Sertoli cells, high NCOA4 cytoplasmic immunostaining in the Sertoli cells and occasional cytoplasmic immunopositivity for FTH1 in the spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. In contrast, Leydig cell tumors (LCTs) and Diffuse Type Seminoma (DSEM) exhibited increased expression of TfR1, along with higher PCNA expression, suggesting a higher iron need for proliferation. Intratubular Type Seminoma (ITSEM) showed a higher FTH1 expression, indicating greater iron storage, while the increased NCOA4 expression in the LCTs and DSEM suggested ferritinophagy to release iron for proliferation. Sertoli cell tumors (SCTs) showed only NCOA4 expression. These preliminary findings highlight potential molecular targets for developing new anti-neoplastic treatments in canine testicular tumors.
铁是精子发生过程中的关键元素;其在睾丸中的代谢途径受到严格调控。铁代谢的改变与包括癌症在内的多种疾病相关,并且在多种人类、小鼠和犬类肿瘤中均观察到了铁代谢相关蛋白的变化。目前对于犬类非肿瘤性和肿瘤性睾丸中的铁代谢了解有限。本研究旨在探讨参与铁摄取和储存的分子[转铁蛋白受体1(TfR1)、铁蛋白(FTH1)、核受体辅激活因子4(NCOA4)]以及增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)在犬类非肿瘤性和肿瘤性睾丸样本中的免疫组化表达。非肿瘤性睾丸在发育中的生殖细胞和支持细胞中显示出中度的TfR1表达,支持细胞中NCOA4有较高的细胞质免疫染色,精原细胞和支持细胞中偶尔有FTH1的细胞质免疫阳性。相比之下,间质细胞瘤(LCTs)和弥漫型精原细胞瘤(DSEM)表现出TfR1表达增加,同时PCNA表达也更高,表明增殖对铁的需求更高。管内型精原细胞瘤(ITSEM)显示出更高的FTH1表达,表明铁储存更多,而LCTs和DSEM中NCOA4表达增加表明通过铁自噬释放铁以进行增殖。支持细胞瘤(SCTs)仅显示NCOA4表达。这些初步发现突出了在犬类睾丸肿瘤中开发新的抗肿瘤治疗方法的潜在分子靶点。