Expression patterns of connexin 26 and connexin 43 mRNA in canine benign and malignant mammary tumours.
The expression patterns of connexin (Cx) genes, encoding gap junctional proteins, are tissue- and cell-specific and, as their expression is mostly suppressed during carcinogenic processes, they are appropriate for monitoring tumour development. In this study, using reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the expression of Cx mRNAs was examined in seven normal canine mammary glands and in 31 mammary gland tumour samples. Cx26 and Cx43 gene expression was studied in all normal tissues using specific Cx26 and Cx43 primers. When the expression patterns of Cx26 and Cx43 genes were analyzed in several types of canine mammary gland tumours, it was noted that it was the loss of Cx26 expression rather than the occurrence of Cx43 expression that was associated with malignancy. These results suggest that Cx26 plays an important role in tumourigenesis of canine mammary gland.
Gotoh
Haruka
H
Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University College of Bioresource Sciences, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8510, Japan.
Harada
Kayono
K
Suzuki
Kazuyuki
K
Hashimoto
Shizu
S
Yamamura
Hozumi
H
Sato
Tsuneo
T
Fukumoto
Keiko
K
Hagiwara
Hiromi
H
Ishida
Tatsuya
T
Yamada
Kazuhiko
K
Asano
Ryuji
R
Yano
Tomohiro
T
D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000072259:Connexin 26; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000072259:Connexin 26