Obesity is characterized by a low degree of chronic inflammation state that, along with metabolic modifications, promotes important changes in the animal's organism. Adipose tissue actively participates in inflammation and immunity, and several defense cells of the organism may, therefore, be involved in the diversity found between obese and ideal weight individuals. Studies regarding this subject have shown immune cell changes in humans and rats, however, the literature is scarce in relation to dogs. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the gene expression profile of immunoinflammatory response and the lymphoproliferation of obese dogs before and after weight loss. Eight female dogs, neutered, of different breeds, aged between 1 and 8 years (4.74±3.19), obese, with body condition score (BCS) of 9 out of a 9-point scale and body composition determined by the deuterium isotope dilution method were included. The obese dogs were enrolled in a weight loss program and after losing 20% of their initial weight became a second experimental group. A third experimental group consisted of eight female dogs, neutered, aged between 1 and 8 years (3.11±0.78) and with ideal BCS (5 out of a 9-point scale). Gene expression of immunoinflammatory cytokines (resistin, leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) was assessed by qRT-PCR and immunity was assessed by lymphoproliferative response using the flow cytometry technique. The data that presented normal distribution was evaluated by analysis of variance by the PROC MIXED of the SAS and when differences were detected, these were compared by the Tukey test. Regarding the gene expression data, the procedure PROC GLIMMIX was adopted and the methodology of generalized linear model was used, in which the Gama distribution proved to be adequate. Values of p<0.05 were considered significant. The mean weight loss period of the animals included in the study was 194.25 ± 28.31 days

Analysis of the expression of inflammatory markers before starting treatment in human patients with cancer helps to predict outcomes and prognosis; however, there have been few studies on this topic in veterinary medicine. The present study aimed to evaluate inflammatory indices before treatment with autologous antitumor vaccine alone or this vaccine plus metronomic chemotherapy (MC) to predict response and prognosis. The indices included the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NRL), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte–lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), C-reactive-protein–albumin ratio (CRP/ALB), lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH), frequency of blood lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+, Treg, and CD4/CD8 ratio) and frequency of blood myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs: monocytic [M]- MDSCs, and granulocytic [PMN]-MDSCs). Blood samples were collected from 25 dogs with oral melanoma treated with the autologous antitumor vaccine and from nine dogs that received MC plus vaccine before surgery. There were no statistically significant differences in the progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) between the groups. In addition to the clinical stage, the CRP/ALB ratio and blood circulating Tregs in the univariate analysis showed an association with PFS and OS, and thus were selected for multivariable analysis. The CRP/ALB ratio was associated with PFS [hazard ratio (HR), 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0–1.1; p = 0.017] and OS [HR, 1; 95%CI, 1.0–1.1; p = 0.023]. Similarly, Treg was associated with PFS (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2–2.1; p = 0.001) and OS (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2–2.1; p = 0.001). Furthermore, canine patients with a CRP/ALB ratio above the cut-off point of 1.9 (established by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis) had worse PFS and OS, indicating the impact of the preoperative CRP/ALB ratio on the PFS and OS of dogs with oral melanoma. The CRP/ALB ratio and frequency of circulating Tregs are potential prognostic markers in dogs with oral melanoma.

pós-graduando do VCI e amigo de outras pósgraduações, que foi o responsável por me trazer para a USP.Agradeço ainda a todos os veterinários que ajudaram fornecendo amostras para essa pesquisa e a todos os pacientes que participaram do estudo. Que sua participação traga benefícios e permita menos sofrimento a novos pacientes no futuro.No âmbito pessoal, gostaria de iniciar agradecendo ao meu noivo Daivson Pereira dos Santos. Obrigado por todo o apoio de perto nesse momento tão importante. É muito bom seguir em frente com a certeza de que estou com a pessoa certa. Eu te amo por essa e por outras vidas.Agradeço também aos meus pais, Márcia Regina Nowosh e Leo Nowosh Filho, por todo o apoio nos momentos de aperto e que me ajudaram até que eu conseguisse me estabelecer. Amo vocês, não deixem que a distância faça vocês esquecerem disso. Agradeço também a meus irmãos, Nikolai Nowosh e Sylvia Helena Nowosh, cunhados, Marianna Zattar e Leonardo Checcacci, sobrinhos, Tom e Bibi, e à minha sogra, Daisy Lúcia Pereira dos Santos. Obrigado por serem essa família que tanto me apoia, que eu amo e que me faz feliz.Tenho o prazer de ser abençoado com muitas amizades, portanto não tenho como agradecer a cada um de meus amigos nominalmente, mas que todos vocês saibam que, estando mais perto ou mais longe de acordo com a fase da vida, o laço que nos une é mais forte que a distância. Agradeço especialmente a Paulo Vitor Dias de Carvalho e Maicon 'Pato' Souza por terem ajudado na confecção dessa tese, mesmo que tenha sido com o simples gesto de me presentearem com chocolates.Agradeço aos meus filhos e sobrinhos de quatro patas, motivos pelo qual segui essa carreira. Aos que estão conosco, Miguel, Zeca, Preta, Joana e Zoya, e aos que já partiram, Jorginho, Sarah, Nina, Margareth, Floquinho e Dolly, meu amor eterno a vocês.Escolho deixar este agradecimento para o final pois julgo ser o mais importante. Em tempos tão sombrios para a pesquisa científica no Brasil, é de extrema importância dar destaque e valorizar aqueles que resistem financiando a ciência e buscando o esclarecimento da população. Portanto, agradeço imensamente à Fundação de amparo à pesquisa do estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) e à Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), sem cujo apoio essa tese não teria se concretizado.Esta pesquisa foi cadastrada sob o Processo nº 2017/22374-0 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).Palavras-chave: Biópsia líquida. Expressão gênica. ISET. Imunocitoquímica.Microfiltração.

Canine melanoma is a frequently-occuring neoplasm in dogs and presents as malignant and highly metastatic in this context, studies that contribute to the understanding of the tumor microenvironment in melanoma include the role of galectins. Galectins are proteins of the family of animal lectins that display carbohydrate recognition domains. Galectin-1 and galectin-3 are associated with neoplastic transformation, neoplastic cell survival, angiogenesis, immune system evasion, and metastasis. The goal of this study was to establish a correlation between expression patterns of galectin-1 and galectin-3 and the different degrees of aggressiveness of canine melanoma, as well as to determine serum concentration of galectin-3 in dogs with melanoma. Galectin-1 and galectin-3 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 30 canine melanomas, six melanocytomas and nine metastatic lymph nodes from patients whose primary tumors were also processed and analyzed. Serum samples from 30 dogs were collected and galectin-3 concentration was determined by ELISA and compared to the samples of 10 healthy dogs. Canine melanoma samples expressed galectin-1 in the cytoplasm and presented a variable pattern of galectin-3 staining depending on melanoma aggressiveness. We observed a decrease in the percentage of cells with cytoplasmic galectin-3 immunolabeling simultaneous to the increased nuclear staining intensity, while there was also a decrease in the percent frequency of nuclear galectin-3 immunolabeled cells according to progression of melanoma, comparing the least to the most aggressive cases. Dogs with melanoma had increased serum levels of galectin-3 when compared to healthy animals, suggesting its potential biomarker of patients with melanoma.

A leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA) é uma enfermidade de origem linfóide e consiste na proliferação de células neoplásicas na medula óssea. O objetivo desse trabalho é relatar o caso de um cão macho, sem raça definida, de apenas um ano de idade, atendido no Hospital Universitário de Medicina Veterinária Prof. Firmino Mársico Filho (HUVET) da Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF) com queixa principal de inapetência e diarreia há três dias e que foi diagnosticado com essa neoplasia por meio da sintomatologia clínica, resultados do hemograma e do mielograma. O paciente apresentava valores exacerbados de linfócitos (553.094 células/ µL), além de anemia, trombocitopenia, hipoalbuminemia e elevação da atividade das enzimas fosfatase alcalina e ALT. Foram observadas manchas de Gümprecht, linfócitos atípicos apresentando anisocitose, anisocariose, intensa basofilia citoplasmática e monócitos ativados. O mielograma apresentou também um aumento de linfócitos e contagem de linfoblastos superior a 30% na medula, confirmando o diagnóstico de leucemia linfoblástica aguda. Ademais, posteriormente, foi realizado exame de Reação em Cadeia de Polimerase (PCR) para rearranjos de receptores de antígenos e foi detectado clonalidade para linfócitos T. O animal foi submetido à quimioterapia (protocolo com ciclofosfamida, vincristina e prednisona) mas não resistiu à gravidade do quadro, vindo a óbito após a primeira sessão, pouco tempo após o diagnóstico.

Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) is a common neoplasm in canines, although it is rare in humans. Cancer cells present alterations in energetic metabolism, and the Warburg effect states that most cancer cells undergo aerobic glycolysis. This can be reversed by certain drugs, resulting in decreased cell viability and cell death. We sought to evaluate the effects of sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) and omeprazole (OMP) alone or in combination on canine OMM and human melanoma cells. CMGD5 and SK-MEL-28 cell lines were treated with DCA and OMP alone or in combination, and cell viability was assessed using the crystal violet assay. Cell death (apoptosis and necrosis) was assessed by Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining assays using flow cytometry. In addition, the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was evaluated using a SeaHorse XF assay. Treatment with DCA or OMP alone resulted in a significant, but not dose-dependent, reduction in cell viability in both cell lines; however, the combination of DCA and OMP resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in viability in both cell lines. DCA and OMP, alone or in combination, did not alter OCR at the concentrations tested in either cell line. Since the combination of DCA and OMP potentialized the inhibition of viability and increased cell death in a synergistic manner in melanoma cells, this approach may represent a new repurposing strategy to treat cancer.

Liquid biopsy is a diagnostic and prognostic tool already reported in several studies with human oncologic patients, and shows potential for application in veterinary oncology. However, liquid biopsy is not a widely known technique in veterinary medicine, and related research is sparse. Liquid biopsy is based on the analysis of blood samples for detection of various tumoral products in circulation. It is a non-invasive technique, and provides results in real time. Information obtained from liquid biopsies can complement the information obtained from the analysis of tissue biopsy. In this review of literature, we present the background principles of liquid biopsy, its methodology, and the tumoral products that can currently be detected with this tool. In addition to circulating tumor cells, liquid biopsies allow detection of nucleic acids, including tumor DNA, micro-RNA, messenger RNA and exosomes. We present the value of liquid biopsy as a diagnostic and prognostic tool, its predictive value in tumor progression and treatment success, and usefulness to assist treatment choice. We discuss its limitations, and the challenges to implement its use in a large scale.