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Properties of the feline tumour suppressor reduced expression in immortalized cells (REIC/Dkk-3)

K Ochiai1, H Oda1, S Shono1

  • 1School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan.

Veterinary and Comparative Oncology
|June 30, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Reduced expression in immortalized cells (REIC/Dkk-3) acts as a tumor suppressor in feline mammary cancers. Restoring REIC/Dkk-3 expression induces apoptosis in cancer cells, suggesting it as a therapeutic target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Veterinary Medicine

Background:

  • Mammary gland tumors are highly malignant in female cats.
  • Reduced expression in immortalized cells (REIC/Dkk-3) is a known growth suppressor in human and canine mammary tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clone the feline REIC/Dkk-3 gene.
  • To investigate REIC/Dkk-3 expression in feline mammary tumor cell lines.
  • To evaluate the tumor suppressor function of feline REIC/Dkk-3.

Main Methods:

  • Cloning of the feline REIC/Dkk-3 homolog.
  • Western blot analysis to assess protein expression.
  • Forced expression of REIC/Dkk-3 in cancer cell lines.

Main Results:

  • REIC/Dkk-3 protein expression was found to be reduced in feline mammary carcinoma cell lines.
  • Forced expression of REIC/Dkk-3 successfully induced apoptosis in these cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • Downregulation of REIC/Dkk-3 is associated with feline mammary tumors.
  • Feline REIC/Dkk-3 demonstrates tumor suppressor activity by inducing apoptosis.
  • Feline REIC/Dkk-3 is a potential molecular target for feline mammary cancer therapies.
Keywords:
REIC/Dkk-3catfelinemammary gland tumourstumour suppressor gene

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