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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in an EcPV2-positive vulva...
Equine veterinary journal2023; doi: 10.1111/evj.13965

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in an EcPV2-positive vulvar squamous cell carcinoma of a mare.

Abstract: Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) has been recently associated with Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) infection. Still, few reports concerning this disease are present in the literature. Objective: To describe a case of naturally occurring EcPV2-induced VSCC, by investigating tumour ability in undergoing the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods: Case report. Methods: A 13-year-old Haflinger mare was referred for a rapidly growing vulvar mass. After surgical excision, the mass was submitted to histopathology and molecular analysis. Histopathological diagnosis was consistent with a VSCC. Real-time qPCR, real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)-qPCR and RNAscope were carried out to detect EcPV2 infection and to evaluate E6/E7 oncogenes expression. To highlight the EMT, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed. Expression of EMT-related and innate immunity-related genes was investigated through RT-qPCR. Results: Real-time qPCR, RT-qPCR and RNAscope confirmed EcPV2 DNA presence and expression of EcPV2 oncoproteins (E6 and E7) within the neoplastic vulvar lesion. IHC highlighted a cadherin switch together with the expression of the EMT-related transcription factor HIF1α. With RT-qPCR, significantly increased gene expression of EBI3 (45.0 ± 1.62, p < 0.01), CDH2 (2445.3 ± 0.39, p < 0.001), CXCL8 (288.7 ± 0.40, p < 0.001) and decreased gene expression of CDH1 (0.3 ± 0.57, p < 0.05), IL12A (0.04 ± 1.06, p < 0.01) and IL17 (0.2 ± 0.64, p < 0.05) were detected. Conclusions: Lack of ability to generalise and danger of over-interpretation. Conclusions: The results obtained were suggestive of an EMT event occurring within the neoplastic lesion.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-07-03 PubMed ID: 37395141DOI: 10.1111/evj.13965Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article describes a case of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) in a mare, that was induced by the Equus caballus papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2). The team investigated the tumor’s capability for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which revealed a presence of EMT event.

Case and Methodology

  • The study focuses on a 13-year-old Haflinger mare that had developed a rapidly growing vulvar mass.
  • The mass was surgically excised and submitted for histopathology and molecular analysis.
  • Real-time qPCR, RT-qPCR, and RNAscope methods were used to detect EcPV2 presence and to evaluate expression levels of E6/E7 oncogenes.
  • Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to highlight any signs of EMT.
  • Finally, RT-qPCR also helped in studying gene expression relating to EMT and innate immunity.

Results

  • The researchers were able to confirm through real-time qPCR, RT-qPCR, and RNAscope that EcPV2 DNA and the expression of EcPV2 oncoproteins (E6 and E7) were present within the neoplastic vulvar lesion.
  • IHC demonstrated a cadherin switch and the expression of the EMT-related transcription factor HIF1α.
  • With RT-qPCR, significant increases in gene expression of EBI3, CDH2, CXCL8, and reduced gene expression of CDH1, IL12A, and IL17 were found.

Conclusions

  • The researchers warn against the danger of over-interpretation and assert the need for a cautious approach in generalizing the results.
  • Nonetheless, the collected data is indicative of an EMT event occurring within the neoplastic lesion, linking the presence of EcPV2 to potential EMT events in VSCC. This suggests new directions for further research on the role of EMT in EcPV2-related cancers.

Cite This Article

APA
De Paolis L, Armando F, Montemurro V, Petrizzi L, Straticò P, Mecocci S, Guarnieri C, Pezzolato M, Fruscione F, Passeri B, Marruchella G, Razzuoli E. (2023). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in an EcPV2-positive vulvar squamous cell carcinoma of a mare. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13965

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

De Paolis, Livia
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D'Aosta, National Reference Center of Veterinary and Comparative Oncology (CEROVEC), Genova, Italy.
Armando, Federico
  • Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Montemurro, Vittoria
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D'Aosta, Histopathology and Applied Technology Laboratory, Torino, Italy.
Petrizzi, Lucio
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
Straticò, Paola
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
Mecocci, Samanta
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Guarnieri, Chiara
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Pezzolato, Marzia
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D'Aosta, Histopathology and Applied Technology Laboratory, Torino, Italy.
Fruscione, Floriana
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D'Aosta, National Reference Center of Veterinary and Comparative Oncology (CEROVEC), Genova, Italy.
Passeri, Benedetta
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Marruchella, Giuseppe
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
Razzuoli, Elisabetta
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D'Aosta, National Reference Center of Veterinary and Comparative Oncology (CEROVEC), Genova, Italy.

Grant Funding

  • IZS PLV 15/18 RC / Italian Ministry of Health
  • 22L03 / Region of Liguria
  • 491094227 / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation

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