Transcriptome analysis of equine sarcoids.
Abstract: Equine sarcoids are the most commonly detected skin tumours in Equidae. In the present research, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed which aimed at looking inside a tumour biology and identification of the expression profile as a potential source of cancer specific genes useful as biomarkers. We have used Horse Gene Expression Microarray data from matched equine sarcoids and tumour-distant skin samples. In total, 901 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between lesional and healthy skin samples have been identified (fold change ≥ 2; P < 0.05). The large subset of DEGs, with decreased expression, was associated with a suppression of malignant transformation, whereas several overexpressed genes were involved in the processes associated with growth and progression of a tumour or immune system activity. Our results, as a first to date, showed comprehensive transcriptome analysis of skin tumour in horses and pinpointed significant pathways and genes related with oncogenesis processes.
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2016-10-25 PubMed ID: 27779365DOI: 10.1111/vco.12279Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study is an analysis of the genes expressed within equine sarcoids, a common skin tumor in horses, to better understand the biology of the tumor and identify potential biomarkers for diagnosing the disease.
Overview of Research and Objectives
- The goal of the research is to understand the genetic behaviour of equine sarcoids, a prevalent skin cancer in horses and other equids.
- The research aimed to use transcriptomic analysis to identify the specific genes expressed in the tumor, a method that could open up avenues for identifying specific genes associated with the development and progression of the disease.
- The researchers hoped to find specific biomarkers that would indicate the presence of the disease in its early stages based on the specific genes expressed.
Methods
- The research relied on Horse Gene Expression Microarray data, comparing samples from equine sarcoids to samples from healthy portions of skin distant from the tumor.
- The researchers looked for significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in both types of tissue, with a fold change of at least 2 and statistical significance, or a P-value, less than 0.05.
Findings
- The study discovered 901 DEGs between the healthy skin samples and those from the sarcoids.
- A subset of these DEGs was found to have decreased expression, which the researchers associated with a suppression of malignant transformation, indicating that these genes may play a role in preventing the disease.
- Other DEGs were found to be overexpressed, or present in higher quantities in the sarcoids. These genes were associated with tumor growth, progression, or activity in the immune system.
Implications
- This research is the first thorough analysis of the genetic makeup of equine sarcoids.
- The findings pinpoint significant genes and pathways involved in the development of the disease, which could be potential targets for both diagnosis and treatment.
- The identification of decreased expression in some DEGs might offer insights into how the disease might be prevented or slowed.
Cite This Article
APA
Semik E, Gurgul A, Ząbek T, Ropka-Molik K, Koch C, Mählmann K, Bugno-Poniewierska M.
(2016).
Transcriptome analysis of equine sarcoids.
Vet Comp Oncol, 15(4), 1370-1381.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12279 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Biology of Animals, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Biology of Animals, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Biology of Animals, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Biology of Animals, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland.
- ISME - Equine Clinic Bern, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Equine Clinic, General Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Genomics and Molecular Biology of Animals, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomarkers / analysis
- Gene Expression Profiling / veterinary
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Gene Ontology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / veterinary
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
- Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
- Skin Neoplasms / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Podstawski P, Ropka-Molik K, Semik-Gurgul E, Samiec M, Skrzyszowska M, Podstawski Z, Szmatoła T, Witkowski M, Pawlina-Tyszko K. Tracking the Molecular Scenarios for Tumorigenic Remodeling of Extracellular Matrix Based on Gene Expression Profiling in Equine Skin Neoplasia Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 10;23(12).
- Podstawski P, Ropka-Molik K, Semik-Gurgul E, Samiec M, Skrzyszowska M, Podstawski Z, Szmatoła T, Witkowski M, Pawlina-Tyszko K. Assessment of BPV-1 Mediated Matrix Metalloproteinase Genes Deregulation in the In Vivo and In Vitro Models Designed to Explore Molecular Nature of Equine Sarcoids. Cells 2022 Apr 8;11(8).
- Podstawski P, Samiec M, Skrzyszowska M, Szmatoła T, Semik-Gurgul E, Ropka-Molik K. The Induced Expression of BPV E4 Gene in Equine Adult Dermal Fibroblast Cells as a Potential Model of Skin Sarcoid-like Neoplasia. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Feb 10;23(4).
- Podstawski P, Witarski W, Szmatoła T, Bugno-Poniewierska M, Ropka-Molik K. Mobility and Invasion Related Gene Expression Patterns in Equine Sarcoid. Animals (Basel) 2020 May 19;10(5).
- Zavodovskaya R, Stover SM, Murphy BG, Katzman S, Durbin-Johnson B, Britton M, Finno CJ. Bone formation transcripts dominate the differential gene expression profile in an equine osteoporotic condition associated with pulmonary silicosis. PLoS One 2018;13(6):e0197459.
- Monteiro MM, de Castro ELA, Pereira AJM, Thiesen R, Thiesen RMC, Salvarani FM. BCG Immunotherapy in Equine Sarcoid Treatment: Mechanisms, Clinical Efficacy, and Challenges in Veterinary Oncology. Viruses 2025 Sep 29;17(10).
- Vychodilova L, Plasil M, Futas J, Kopecka A, Molinkova D, Wijacki T, Jahn P, Knoll A, Horin P. Genetic susceptibility to sarcoid in Arabian horses: associations with MHC class II and compound MHC class I/KLRA genotypes. Vet Res Commun 2025 May 1;49(3):184.
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