mRNA expression of tumor-associated genes in canine grade I meningiomas

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Canine Oncology

Background:

• Canine meningiomas are common primary brain tumors in dogs.
• Accurate methods for assessing tumor molecular characteristics are crucial for understanding pathogenesis.
• Real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a powerful tool for mRNA expression analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a real-time RT-PCR method for quantifying mRNA expression in canine meningiomas.
• To identify suitable internal control genes for accurate gene expression analysis in canine meningiomas.
• To investigate the differential expression of key genes involved in tumor development.

Main Methods:

• Real-time RT-PCR was employed to measure mRNA expression levels.
• Normal meninges and canine meningioma tissues were used for comparison.
• Ribosomal protein S18 (RPS18) was evaluated as a potential internal standard gene.

Main Results:

• RPS18 was confirmed as a suitable internal standard for normalizing mRNA expression in canine meningiomas.
• Significant upregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mRNA was observed.
• A notable downregulation of Kinase Insert Domain Receptor (KDR) mRNA expression was detected in meningiomas compared to normal tissue.

Conclusions:

• Real-time RT-PCR, utilizing appropriate controls and internal standards like RPS18, is a reliable method for canine meningioma research.
• The observed alterations in VEGFA, EGFR, and KDR mRNA expression provide insights into the molecular mechanisms driving canine meningioma development.
• These findings correlate with existing immunohistochemical data, supporting the utility of molecular analysis in understanding tumor pathogenesis.