title: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and steroid receptor expressions in feline mammary tumors.
abstract: We evaluated the presence of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) enzymes in 18 feline mammary tubulopapillary carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry was performed to localize ER, PR, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in situ. Western blotting and zymographic analyses also were performed to investigate the presence and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzymes in fresh tissue homogenates. ER immune expression was detected in five samples (27.7%) and PR was positive in sixteen (88.8%) samples. Diffuse cytoplasmic staining of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in neoplastic mammary epithelial cells, stromal fibroblasts and inflammatory cell was evident. MMP-2 and MMP-9 staining was observed also in metastasizing neoplastic cells within lymphatic vessels. MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzymes and their activities in fresh tumor homogenates were demonstrated by zymography. Comparison of MMP-9 gelatinolytic bands from tumor samples and controls revealed a statistically significant difference. We demonstrated elevated MMP-9 and MMP-2 levels in tumor samples by Western blotting; analysis of protein bands revealed 1.9-to-3 fold increase in MMP-9 in tumor samples and the difference was statistically significant. Our results suggest that the expression of MMP-9 can be an important indicator for tumor progression and the possible metastatic nature of feline tubulopapillary carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Uludag University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Gorukle-Bursa, Turkey. aakkoc@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akkoc
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sonmez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000201:enzymology; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9