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Vulvo-vaginal epithelial tumors in mares: A preliminary investigation on epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor-immune microenvironment.
- Source :
- Veterinary Pathology; May2024, Vol. 61 Issue 3, p366-381, 16p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Vulvo-vaginal epithelial tumors are uncommon in mares, and data on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) are still lacking. This is a study investigating the equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) infection state as well as the EMT process and the tumor microenvironment in vulvo-vaginal preneoplastic/ benign (8/22) or malignant (14/22) epithelial lesions in mares. To do this, histopathological, immunohistochemical, transcriptomic, in situ hybridization, and correlation analyses were carried out. Immunohistochemistry quantification showed that cytoplasmic E-cadherin and β-catenin expression as well as nuclear β-catenin expression were features of malignant lesions, while benign/preneoplastic lesions were mainly characterized by membranous E-cadherin and β-catenin expression. Despite this, there were no differences between benign and malignant equine vulvo-vaginal lesions in the expression of downstream genes involved in the canonical and noncanonical wnt/β-catenin pathways. In addition, malignant lesions were characterized by a lower number of cells with cytoplasmic cytokeratin expression as well as a slightly higher cytoplasmic vimentin immunolabeling. The TIME of malignant lesions was characterized by more numerous CD204<superscript>+</superscript> M2-polarized macrophages. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that some actors in TIME such as CD204<superscript>+</superscript> M2-polarized macrophages may favor the EMT process in equine vulvo-vaginal malignant lesions providing new insights for future investigations in the field of equine EcPV2-induced genital neoplastic lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03009858
- Volume :
- 61
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Veterinary Pathology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177036260
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858231207025