title: C-kit gene product (CD117) immunoreactivity in canine and feline paraffin sections.
abstract: CD117 is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor expressed by a variety of normal human cell types, including germ cells, immature myeloid cells, and mast cells. To evaluate the pattern of CD117 expression in dogs and cats, we applied a polyclonal antibody on paraffin sections from 44 samples of normal tissues and 104 tumors. In both species, strong immunoreactivity was observed in mast cells, interstitial cells of Cajal, and in mast cell tumors. Among gastrointestinal mesenchymal neoplasms, tissues from five dogs and one cat revealed strong CD117 expression, enabling us to identify them as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bettini
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Preziosi
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandrioli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010232:Paraffin; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D016610:Tissue Embedding
chemical_list: D010232:Paraffin; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit