CHARACTERISTICS OF MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX EXPRESSION AND CYTOKINE PROFILES IN SPONTANEOUS CANINE TUMOURS

摘要

Recent studies have reported gene therapy as an alternative treatment for canine’s cancer. Fifty-three samples from canine patients were obtained and the expression of MHC classes I and II and CD-markers in tumour cells, subpopulations of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) through flow cytometry and tumour cell cytokines were examined through real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. These data were compared by using Biomarker Patterns Software. Mammary gland tumours (MGTs) showed low MHC I expression that can be correlated with tumour malignancy, with cut-off values of 72.58% (MGT, <72.58% and non-MGT, >72.58%). IL-8, showing a positive correlation with angiogenesis, expression in MGTs was significantly high and IL-12 expression in complex and tubulopapillary carcinomas were significantly lower than that in healthy mammary gland cells (p<0.01). PBLs of dogs with MGTs had fewer T cells, particularly T helper cells, and B cells and more non-T, non-B cells, particularly malignant MGTs, than did PBLs of healthy dogs. Among all surface markers and cytokines detected, high CD3 TIL was significantly correlated with a more favourable prognosis. Cytokines, such as IL-8, -12, and -15, can be the indicators of therapeutic targets because of their specific expression patterns in specific MGT subtypes.