Validation of gene targets that allow transplantation of a mouse cancer across the histocompatibility barrier

Abstract

The canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a transmissible cancer of clonal cell lineage (Murgia et al. 2006). CTVT is transmitted through physical contact, through the transfer and replication of the cancer cells themselves, rather than through the viral modification of cells in each new host (Metzger, Goff 2016). It is well established that the histocompatibility barrier (HB) prevents tissue transplantation across genetically unrelated individuals. It remains largely unknown how cancer cells in CTVT can be transmitted from one individual to another without being eliminated by the immune system. In this study, we aim to investigate how a cancer may evade the HB by studying the evolution of a mouse melanoma that has been selected by passaging to go across genetically unrelated inbred mouse strains. To this end, I have analysed expression of some key genes and compared the original (pre-adaptation) melanoma cells and the adapted tumour that can bypass the HB. Results show that adapted tumour cells express more DDX58 (RIG-I) and CCL5 than the melanoma cells and have greater migration ability.