The study purpose was to determine whether canine corneal cultures demonstrate superior growth when cultured in a fully defined epithelial selective medium, Epilife®, compared to Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's medium (DMEM) with fetal bovine serum (FBS), and to characterize cultured canine corneal cells. Superficial keratectomies were performed on three dogs. Samples were trypsinized to separate cell layers. Post-trypsinization, immunohistochemistry confirmed that epithelial cells had been released from the stroma. Both cell populations (presumed epithelial cells and stromal tissues) were cultured in DMEM with FBS or Epilife®. First passage cells were fixed for immunocytochemistry and prepared for PCR. Immunocytochemical staining for pancytokeratin, vimentin, and E-cadherin was evaluated, and immunofluorescence for zonula occludens-1 was attempted. Amplification of cytokeratin 5 (CK5) mRNA was assessed by PCR. Primary presumed epithelial cells grew faster when cultured in DMEM with FBS compared to Epilife®. Stromal tissue segments in Epilife® medium failed to adhere to culture plates, indicating that this medium may inhibit attachment and growth of non-epithelial tissues. Staining of corneal tissue segments confirmed that epithelial layers were pancytokeratin and E-cadherin positive, while stromal cells were vimentin positive. Immunocytochemistry of cultured cells revealed that epithelial cells stained positively for pancytokeratin, vimentin, and E-cadherin, while stromal cells remained only vimentin positive. Greater amplification of CK5 mRNA occurred from epithelial cells grown in Epilife® compared to epithelial cells in DMEM with FBS or the stromal cells. Based on PCR results, Epilife® medium may support retention of the epithelial characteristic of CK5 mRNA expression better than DMEM with FBS. / Master of Science

O reconhecimento de subtipos de carcinomas mamários baseados em suas características moleculares trouxe novas perspectivas na investigação do câncer de mama. Algumas proteínas chaves reguladoras da angiogênese e da infiltração tumoral foram avaliadas em carcinomas de mama de fenótipo basal (CK5+). Foi realizado estudo Imunoistoquímico com 14 anticorpos primários em 100 casos de carcinoma ductal. A positividade para citoqueratina 5 correlacionou-se com indicadores de mau prognóstico, incluindo idade precoce, alto grau histológico, linfonodos positivos, estádio patológico avançado, negatividade para receptores hormonais, e uma alta taxa de proliferação celular, avaliado pelo Ki67. A positividade para a CK5 também se correlacionou com a expressão do VEGF, mas não com a densidade da microvascularização. Considerando que a superexpressão de VEGF pelas células neoplásicas da mama leva a um aumento da atividade proliferativa in vitro independente de seu efeito angiogênico, a expressão diferencial do VEFG pode contribuir para o comportamento mais agressivo da neoplasia. Houve correlação do CK5 com TIMP1, mas não com MMP1, MMP2, EMMPRIN, TIMP2 and PAI, indicando que o estimulo antiproteolítico pode ser preponderante nesta neoplasia. / The recognition of subtypes of breast carcinomas based on their molecular features has brought new perspectives in breast cancer investigation. Some key regulators of angiogenesis and tumor infiltration were evaluated in breast carcinomas of basal-phenotype (CK5+). Immunohistochemistry with 14 primary antibodies was performed in 100 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of invasive ductal carcinomas. Cytokeratin 5 correlated with indicators of poor outcome, including precocious age, high histological grade, lymph node positivity, advanced pathological stage, negativity for hormonal receptors, and a high proliferative rate (Ki67 labeled index). CK5 also correlated with VEGF expression but not with the microvessel density. Considering that VEGF overexpressing neoplastic mammary cells display increased proliferative activity in vitro regardless its angiogenic effect, the differential expression of VEGF may contribute for the more aggressive behavior of these neoplasms. CK5 correlated with TIMP1, but not MMP1, MMP2, EMMPRIN, TIMP2 and PAI, indicating that anti-proteolytic stimuli may be preponderant in these neoplasms.

O reconhecimento de subtipos de carcinomas mamários baseados em suas características moleculares trouxe novas perspectivas na investigação do câncer de mama. Algumas proteínas chaves reguladoras da angiogênese e da infiltração tumoral foram avaliadas em carcinomas de mama de fenótipo basal (CK5+). Foi realizado estudo Imunoistoquímico com 14 anticorpos primários em 100 casos de carcinoma ductal. A positividade para citoqueratina 5 correlacionou-se com indicadores de mau prognóstico, incluindo idade precoce, alto grau histológico, linfonodos positivos, estádio patológico avançado, negatividade para receptores hormonais, e uma alta taxa de proliferação celular, avaliado pelo Ki67. A positividade para a CK5 também se correlacionou com a expressão do VEGF, mas não com a densidade da microvascularização. Considerando que a superexpressão de VEGF pelas células neoplásicas da mama leva a um aumento da atividade proliferativa in vitro independente de seu efeito angiogênico, a expressão diferencial do VEFG pode contribuir para o comportamento mais agressivo da neoplasia. Houve correlação do CK5 com TIMP1, mas não com MMP1, MMP2, EMMPRIN, TIMP2 and PAI, indicando que o estimulo antiproteolítico pode ser preponderante nesta neoplasia. / The recognition of subtypes of breast carcinomas based on their molecular features has brought new perspectives in breast cancer investigation. Some key regulators of angiogenesis and tumor infiltration were evaluated in breast carcinomas of basal-phenotype (CK5+). Immunohistochemistry with 14 primary antibodies was performed in 100 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of invasive ductal carcinomas. Cytokeratin 5 correlated with indicators of poor outcome, including precocious age, high histological grade, lymph node positivity, advanced pathological stage, negativity for hormonal receptors, and a high proliferative rate (Ki67 labeled index). CK5 also correlated with VEGF expression but not with the microvessel density. Considering that VEGF overexpressing neoplastic mammary cells display increased proliferative activity in vitro regardless its angiogenic effect, the differential expression of VEGF may contribute for the more aggressive behavior of these neoplasms. CK5 correlated with TIMP1, but not MMP1, MMP2, EMMPRIN, TIMP2 and PAI, indicating that anti-proteolytic stimuli may be preponderant in these neoplasms.