1
|
Auf der Maur P, Trefny MP, Baumann Z, Vulin M, Correia AL, Diepenbruck M, Kramer N, Volkmann K, Preca BT, Ramos P, Leroy C, Eichlisberger T, Buczak K, Zilli F, Okamoto R, Rad R, Jensen MR, Fritsch C, Zippelius A, Stadler MB, Bentires-Alj M. N-acetylcysteine overcomes NF1 loss-driven resistance to PI3Kα inhibition in breast cancer. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101002. [PMID: 37044095 PMCID: PMC10140479 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
A genome-wide PiggyBac transposon-mediated screen and a resistance screen in a PIK3CAH1047R-mutated murine tumor model reveal NF1 loss in mammary tumors resistant to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α (PI3Kα)-selective inhibitor alpelisib. Depletion of NF1 in PIK3CAH1047R breast cancer cell lines and a patient-derived organoid model shows that NF1 loss reduces sensitivity to PI3Kα inhibition and correlates with enhanced glycolysis and lower levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unexpectedly, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) sensitizes NF1 knockout cells to PI3Kα inhibition and reverts their glycolytic phenotype. Global phospho-proteomics indicates that combination with NAC enhances the inhibitory effect of alpelisib on mTOR signaling. In public datasets of human breast cancer, we find that NF1 is frequently mutated and that such mutations are enriched in metastases, an indication for which use of PI3Kα inhibitors has been approved. Our results raise the attractive possibility of combining PI3Kα inhibition with NAC supplementation, especially in patients with drug-resistant metastases associated with NF1 loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priska Auf der Maur
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marcel P Trefny
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zora Baumann
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Milica Vulin
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ana Luisa Correia
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maren Diepenbruck
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Kramer
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Volkmann
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bogdan-Tiberius Preca
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pedro Ramos
- Oncology Research, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cedric Leroy
- Oncology Research, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Katarzyna Buczak
- Proteomics Core Facility, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Federica Zilli
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ryoko Okamoto
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, München, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, München, Germany; Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Christine Fritsch
- Oncology Research, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alfred Zippelius
- Cancer Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael B Stadler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mohamed Bentires-Alj
- Tumor Heterogeneity Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chin HS, Fu NY. Physiological Functions of Mcl-1: Insights From Genetic Mouse Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:704547. [PMID: 34336857 PMCID: PMC8322662 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.704547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to regulate the survival and death of a cell is paramount throughout the lifespan of a multicellular organism. Apoptosis, a main physiological form of programmed cell death, is regulated by the Bcl-2 family proteins that are either pro-apoptotic or pro-survival. The in vivo functions of distinct Bcl-2 family members are largely unmasked by genetically engineered murine models. Mcl-1 is one of the two Bcl-2 like pro-survival genes whose germline deletion causes embryonic lethality in mice. Its requisite for the survival of a broad range of cell types has been further unraveled by using conditional and inducible deletion murine model systems in different tissues or cell lineages and at distinct developmental stages. Moreover, genetic mouse cancer models have also demonstrated that Mcl-1 is essential for the survival of multiple tumor types. The MCL-1 locus is commonly amplified across various cancer types in humans. Small molecule inhibitors with high affinity and specificity to human MCL-1 have been developed and explored for the treatment of certain cancers. To facilitate the pre-clinical studies of MCL-1 in cancer and other diseases, transgenic mouse models over-expressing human MCL-1 as well as humanized MCL-1 mouse models have been recently engineered. This review discusses the current advances in understanding the physiological roles of Mcl-1 based on studies using genetic murine models and its critical implications in pathology and treatment of human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui San Chin
- Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nai Yang Fu
- Programme in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fu NY, Pal B, Chen Y, Jackling FC, Milevskiy M, Vaillant F, Capaldo BD, Guo F, Liu KH, Rios AC, Lim N, Kueh AJ, Virshup DM, Herold MJ, Tucker HO, Smyth GK, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE. Foxp1 Is Indispensable for Ductal Morphogenesis and Controls the Exit of Mammary Stem Cells from Quiescence. Dev Cell 2018; 47:629-644.e8. [PMID: 30523786 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Long-lived quiescent mammary stem cells (MaSCs) are presumed to coordinate the dramatic expansion of ductal epithelium that occurs through the different phases of postnatal development, but little is known about the molecular regulators that underpin their activation. We show that ablation of the transcription factor Foxp1 in the mammary gland profoundly impairs ductal morphogenesis, resulting in a rudimentary tree throughout life. Foxp1-deficient glands were highly enriched for quiescent Tspan8hi MaSCs, which failed to become activated even in competitive transplantation assays, thus highlighting a cell-intrinsic defect. Foxp1 deletion also resulted in aberrant expression of basal genes in luminal cells, inferring a role in cell-fate decisions. Notably, Foxp1 was uncovered as a direct repressor of Tspan8 in basal cells, and deletion of Tspan8 rescued the defects in ductal morphogenesis elicited by Foxp1 loss. Thus, a single transcriptional regulator Foxp1 can control the exit of MaSCs from dormancy to orchestrate differentiation and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nai Yang Fu
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
| | - Bhupinder Pal
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Yunshun Chen
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Felicity C Jackling
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Michael Milevskiy
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - François Vaillant
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Bianca D Capaldo
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Fusheng Guo
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Kevin H Liu
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Anne C Rios
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Prinses Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hubrecht Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, Utrecht 3584 CT, the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas Lim
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Andrew J Kueh
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Division of Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - David M Virshup
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Marco J Herold
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Division of Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Haley O Tucker
- Molecular Biosciences and Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Gordon K Smyth
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J Lindeman
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jane E Visvader
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Williams MM, Vaught DB, Joly MM, Hicks DJ, Sanchez V, Owens P, Rahman B, Elion DL, Balko JM, Cook RS. ErbB3 drives mammary epithelial survival and differentiation during pregnancy and lactation. Breast Cancer Res 2017; 19:105. [PMID: 28886748 PMCID: PMC5591538 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-017-0893-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During pregnancy, as the mammary gland prepares for synthesis and delivery of milk to newborns, a luminal mammary epithelial cell (MEC) subpopulation proliferates rapidly in response to systemic hormonal cues that activate STAT5A. While the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB4 is required for STAT5A activation in MECs during pregnancy, it is unclear how ErbB3, a heterodimeric partner of ErbB4 and activator of phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling, contributes to lactogenic expansion of the mammary gland. Methods We assessed mRNA expression levels by expression microarray of mouse mammary glands harvested throughout pregnancy and lactation. To study the role of ErbB3 in mammary gland lactogenesis, we used transgenic mice expressing WAP-driven Cre recombinase to generate a mouse model in which conditional ErbB3 ablation occurred specifically in alveolar mammary epithelial cells (aMECs). Results Profiling of RNA from mouse MECs isolated throughout pregnancy revealed robust Erbb3 induction during mid-to-late pregnancy, a time point when aMECs proliferate rapidly and undergo differentiation to support milk production. Litters nursed by ErbB3KO dams weighed significantly less when compared to litters nursed by ErbB3WT dams. Further analysis revealed substantially reduced epithelial content, decreased aMEC proliferation, and increased aMEC cell death during late pregnancy. Consistent with the potent ability of ErbB3 to activate cell survival through the PI3K/Akt pathway, we found impaired Akt phosphorylation in ErbB3KO samples, as well as impaired expression of STAT5A, a master regulator of lactogenesis. Constitutively active Akt rescued cell survival in ErbB3-depleted aMECs, but failed to restore STAT5A expression or activity. Interestingly, defects in growth and survival of ErbB3KO aMECs as well as Akt phosphorylation, STAT5A activity, and expression of milk-encoding genes observed in ErbB3KO MECs progressively improved between late pregnancy and lactation day 5. We found a compensatory upregulation of ErbB4 activity in ErbB3KO mammary glands. Enforced ErbB4 expression alleviated the consequences of ErbB3 ablation in aMECs, while combined ablation of both ErbB3 and ErbB4 exaggerated the phenotype. Conclusions These studies demonstrate that ErbB3, like ErbB4, enhances lactogenic expansion and differentiation of the mammary gland during pregnancy, through activation of Akt and STAT5A, two targets crucial for lactation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13058-017-0893-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Williams
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - David B Vaught
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Meghan Morrison Joly
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Donna J Hicks
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Violeta Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Philip Owens
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Bushra Rahman
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - David L Elion
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Justin M Balko
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Rebecca S Cook
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Rm 749 Preston Research Building, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ahmed MI, Elias S, Mould AW, Bikoff EK, Robertson EJ. The transcriptional repressor Blimp1 is expressed in rare luminal progenitors and is essential for mammary gland development. Development 2017; 143:1663-73. [PMID: 27190036 PMCID: PMC4874485 DOI: 10.1242/dev.136358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Mammary gland morphogenesis depends on a tight balance between cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, to create a defined functional hierarchy within the epithelia. The limited availability of stem cell/progenitor markers has made it challenging to decipher lineage relationships. Here, we identify a rare subset of luminal progenitors that express the zinc finger transcriptional repressor Blimp1, and demonstrate that this subset of highly clonogenic luminal progenitors is required for mammary gland development. Conditional inactivation experiments using K14-Cre and WAPi-Cre deleter strains revealed essential functions at multiple developmental stages. Thus, Blimp1 regulates proliferation, apoptosis and alveolar cell maturation during puberty and pregnancy. Loss of Blimp1 disrupts epithelial architecture and lumen formation both in vivo and in three-dimensional (3D) primary cell cultures. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Blimp1 is required to maintain a highly proliferative luminal subset necessary for mammary gland development and homeostasis. Highlighted article: In the mouse mammary gland, Blimp1 marks a rare progenitor population, and is required for cell proliferation and polarity as well as efficient milk production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed I Ahmed
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Salah Elias
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Arne W Mould
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Elizabeth K Bikoff
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rios AC, Fu NY, Jamieson PR, Pal B, Whitehead L, Nicholas KR, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE. Essential role for a novel population of binucleated mammary epithelial cells in lactation. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11400. [PMID: 27102712 PMCID: PMC4844753 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammary gland represents a unique tissue to study organogenesis as it predominantly develops in the post-natal animal and undergoes dramatic morphogenetic changes during puberty and the reproductive cycle. The physiological function of the mammary gland is to produce milk to sustain the newborn. Here we view the lactating gland through three-dimensional confocal imaging of intact tissue. We observed that the majority of secretory alveolar cells are binucleated. These cells first arise in very late pregnancy due to failure of cytokinesis and are larger than mononucleated cells. Augmented expression of Aurora kinase-A and Polo-like kinase-1 at the lactogenic switch likely mediates the formation of binucleated cells. Our findings demonstrate an important physiological role for polyploid mammary epithelial cells in lactation, and based on their presence in five different species, suggest that binucleated cells evolved to maximize milk production and promote the survival of offspring across all mammalian species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne C. Rios
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nai Yang Fu
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R. Jamieson
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Bhupinder Pal
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Lachlan Whitehead
- Imaging Laboratory, Systems Biology and Personalised Medicine Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Kevin R. Nicholas
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J. Lindeman
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Familial Cancer Centre and Department of Medical Oncology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Jane E. Visvader
- Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fu NY, Rios AC, Pal B, Soetanto R, Lun ATL, Liu K, Beck T, Best SA, Vaillant F, Bouillet P, Strasser A, Preiss T, Smyth GK, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE. EGF-mediated induction of Mcl-1 at the switch to lactation is essential for alveolar cell survival. Nat Cell Biol 2015; 17:365-75. [PMID: 25730472 DOI: 10.1038/ncb3117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Expansion and remodelling of the mammary epithelium requires a tight balance between cellular proliferation, differentiation and death. To explore cell survival versus cell death decisions in this organ, we deleted the pro-survival gene Mcl-1 in the mammary epithelium. Mcl-1 was found to be essential at multiple developmental stages including morphogenesis in puberty and alveologenesis in pregnancy. Moreover, Mcl-1-deficient basal cells were virtually devoid of repopulating activity, suggesting that this gene is required for stem cell function. Profound upregulation of the Mcl-1 protein was evident in alveolar cells at the switch to lactation, and Mcl-1 deficiency impaired lactation. Interestingly, EGF was identified as one of the most highly upregulated genes on lactogenesis and inhibition of EGF or mTOR signalling markedly impaired lactation, with concomitant decreases in Mcl-1 and phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6. These data demonstrate that Mcl-1 is essential for mammopoiesis and identify EGF as a critical trigger of Mcl-1 translation to ensure survival of milk-producing alveolar cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nai Yang Fu
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Anne C Rios
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Bhupinder Pal
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Rina Soetanto
- Genome Biology Department, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Aaron T L Lun
- 1] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia [2] Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Kevin Liu
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Tamara Beck
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sarah A Best
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - François Vaillant
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Philippe Bouillet
- 1] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia [2] Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Andreas Strasser
- 1] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia [2] Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Thomas Preiss
- 1] Genome Biology Department, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia [2] Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia
| | - Gordon K Smyth
- 1] Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J Lindeman
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Oncology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia [3] Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Jane E Visvader
- 1] ACRF Stem Cells and Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Expression of PIK3CA mutant E545K in the mammary gland induces heterogeneous tumors but is less potent than mutant H1047R. Oncogenesis 2013; 2:e74. [PMID: 24080956 PMCID: PMC3816227 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2013.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling cascade is a key mediator of cellular growth, survival and metabolism and is frequently subverted in human cancer. The gene encoding for the alpha catalytic subunit of PI3K (PIK3CA) is mutated and/or amplified in ∼30% of breast cancers. Mutations in either the kinase domain (H1047R) or the helical domain (E545K) are most common and result in a constitutively active enzyme with oncogenic capacity. PIK3CAH1047R was previously demonstrated to induce tumors in transgenic mouse models; however, it was not known whether overexpression of PIK3CAE545K is sufficient to induce mammary tumors and whether tumor initiation by these two types of mutants differs. Here, we demonstrate that expression of PIK3CAE545K in the mouse mammary gland induces heterogenous mammary carcinomas but with a longer latency than PIK3CAH1047R-expressing mice. Our results suggest that the helical domain mutant PIK3CAE545K is a less potent inducer of mammary tumors due to less efficient activation of downstream Akt signaling.
Collapse
|
9
|
Koren S, Bentires-Alj M. Mouse models of PIK3CA mutations: one mutation initiates heterogeneous mammary tumors. FEBS J 2013; 280:2758-65. [PMID: 23384338 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2012] [Revised: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway is crucial for cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, and survival, and is frequently deregulated in human cancer, including ~ 70% of breast tumors. PIK3CA, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit p110α of PI3K, is mutated in ~ 30% of breast cancers. However, the exact mechanism of PIK3CA-evoked breast tumorigenesis has not yet been defined. Genetically engineered mouse models are valuable for examining the initiation, development and progression of cancer. Transgenic mice harboring hotspot mutations in p110α have helped to elucidate breast cancer pathogenesis and increase our knowledge about molecular and cellular alterations in vivo. They are also useful for the development of therapeutic strategies. Here, we describe current mouse models of mutant PIK3CA in the mammary gland, and discuss differences in tumor latency and pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shany Koren
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Meyer DS, Brinkhaus H, Müller U, Müller M, Cardiff RD, Bentires-Alj M. Luminal expression of PIK3CA mutant H1047R in the mammary gland induces heterogeneous tumors. Cancer Res 2011; 71:4344-51. [PMID: 21482677 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-3827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling cascade, a key mediator of cellular survival, growth, and metabolism, is frequently altered in human cancer. Activating mutations in PIK3CA, which encodes the α-catalytic subunit of PI3K, occur in approximately 30% of breast cancers. These mutations result in constitutive activity of the enzyme and are oncogenic, but it is not known whether they are sufficient to induce mammary carcinomas in mice. In the present study, we show that the expression of mutant PIK3CA H1047R in the luminal mammary epithelium evokes heterogeneous tumors that express luminal and basal markers and are positive for the estrogen receptor. Our results suggest that the PIK3CA H1047R oncogene targets a multipotent progenitor cell and, furthermore, show that this model recapitulates features of human breast tumors with PIK3CA H1047R.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominique S Meyer
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Developmental and Molecular Pathways, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Robinson GW, Hennighausen L. MMTV-Cre transgenes can adversely affect lactation: considerations for conditional gene deletion in mammary tissue. Anal Biochem 2011; 412:92-5. [PMID: 21255551 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2010] [Revised: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
CRE-loxP-mediated inactivation and activation of genes in mouse mammary epithelium have been widely used to study genetic pathways in normal development and neoplastic transformation in vivo. In 1997, we generated three distinct mouse lines carrying an identical MMTV-Cre transgene (lines A, D, and F). Because the presence of CRE recombinase can adversely affect the physiology of nonmammary cells, we explored whether transgenic females display lactational defects. Whereas dams from line D nurse their pups and display overtly normal mammary development, line A shows some impairment during lactation and females from line F completely fail to nurse their litters. The ability to nurse a litter correlates with the extent of alveolar development and differentiation. This study demonstrates the importance of including appropriate "Cre-only" controls and provides guidelines to avoid problems in data interpretation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gertraud W Robinson
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Stoelzle T, Schwarb P, Trumpp A, Hynes NE. c-Myc affects mRNA translation, cell proliferation and progenitor cell function in the mammary gland. BMC Biol 2009; 7:63. [PMID: 19785743 PMCID: PMC2761394 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-7-63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2009] [Accepted: 09/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The oncoprotein c-Myc has been intensely studied in breast cancer and mouse mammary tumor models, but relatively little is known about the normal physiological role of c-Myc in the mammary gland. Here we investigated functions of c-Myc during mouse mammary gland development using a conditional knockout approach. Results Generation of c-mycfl/fl mice carrying the mammary gland-specific WAPiCre transgene resulted in c-Myc loss in alveolar epithelial cells starting in mid-pregnancy. Three major phenotypes were observed in glands of mutant mice. First, c-Myc-deficient alveolar cells had a slower proliferative response at the start of pregnancy, causing a delay but not a block of alveolar development. Second, while milk composition was comparable between wild type and mutant animals, milk production was reduced in mutant glands, leading to slower pup weight-gain. Electron microscopy and polysome fractionation revealed a general decrease in translational efficiency. Furthermore, analysis of mRNA distribution along the polysome gradient demonstrated that this effect was specific for mRNAs whose protein products are involved in milk synthesis. Moreover, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed decreased levels of ribosomal RNAs and ribosomal protein-encoding mRNAs in mutant glands. Third, using the mammary transplantation technique to functionally identify alveolar progenitor cells, we observed that the mutant epithelium has a reduced ability to repopulate the gland when transplanted into NOD/SCID recipients. Conclusion We have demonstrated that c-Myc plays multiple roles in the mouse mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation. c-Myc loss delayed, but did not block proliferation and differentiation in pregnancy. During lactation, lower levels of ribosomal RNAs and proteins were present and translation was generally decreased in mutant glands. Finally, the transplantation studies suggest a role for c-Myc in progenitor cell proliferation and/or survival. See related minireview by Evan et al:
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Stoelzle
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Akhtar N, Marlow R, Lambert E, Schatzmann F, Lowe ET, Cheung J, Katz E, Li W, Wu C, Dedhar S, Naylor MJ, Streuli CH. Molecular dissection of integrin signalling proteins in the control of mammary epithelial development and differentiation. Development 2009; 136:1019-27. [PMID: 19211680 DOI: 10.1242/dev.028423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cell-matrix adhesion is essential for the development and tissue-specific functions of epithelia. For example, in the mammary gland, beta1-integrin is necessary for the normal development of alveoli and for the activation of endocrine signalling pathways that determine cellular differentiation. However, the adhesion complex proteins linking integrins with downstream effectors of hormonal signalling pathways are not known. To understand the mechanisms involved in connecting adhesion with this aspect of cell phenotype, we examined the involvement of two proximal beta1-integrin signalling intermediates, integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). By employing genetic analysis using the Cre-LoxP system, we provide evidence that ILK, but not FAK, has a key role in lactogenesis in vivo and in the differentiation of cultured luminal epithelial cells. Conditional deletion of ILK both in vivo and in primary cell cultures resulted in defective differentiation, by preventing phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT5, a transcription factor required for lactation. Expression of an activated RAC (RAS-related C3 botulinum substrate) in ILK-null acini restored the lactation defect, indicating that RAC1 provides a mechanistic link between the integrin/ILK adhesion complex and the differentiation pathway. Thus, we have determined that ILK is an essential downstream component of integrin signalling involved in differentiation, and have identified a high degree of specificity within the integrin-based adhesome that links cell-matrix interactions with the tissue-specific function of epithelia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nasreen Akhtar
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Grosse-Wilde A, Voloshanenko O, Bailey SL, Longton GM, Schaefer U, Csernok AI, Schütz G, Greiner EF, Kemp CJ, Walczak H. TRAIL-R deficiency in mice enhances lymph node metastasis without affecting primary tumor development. J Clin Invest 2008; 118:100-10. [PMID: 18079967 DOI: 10.1172/jci33061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2007] [Accepted: 10/24/2007] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
TRAIL is a promising anticancer agent due to its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in established tumor cell lines but not nontransformed cells. Herein, we demonstrate a role for the apoptosis-inducing TRAIL receptor (TRAIL-R) as a metastasis suppressor. Although mouse models employing tumor transplantation have shown that TRAIL can reduce tumor growth, autochthonous tumor models have generated conflicting results with respect to the physiological role of the TRAIL system during tumorigenesis. We used a multistage model of squamous cell carcinoma to examine the role of TRAIL-R throughout all steps of tumor development. DMBA/TPA-treated TRAIL-R-deficient mice showed neither an increase in number or growth rate of benign papillomas nor an increase in the rate of progression to squamous cell carcinoma. However, metastasis to lymph nodes was significantly enhanced, indicating a role for TRAIL-R specifically in the suppression of metastasis. We also found that adherent TRAIL-R-expressing skin carcinoma cells were TRAIL resistant in vitro but were sensitized to TRAIL upon detachment by inactivation of the ERK signaling pathway. As detachment from the primary tumor is an obligatory step in metastasis, this provides a possible mechanism by which TRAIL-R could inhibit metastasis. Hence, treatment of cancer patients with agonists of the apoptosis-inducing receptors for TRAIL may prove useful in reducing the incidence of metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Grosse-Wilde
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kero J, Ahmed K, Wettschureck N, Tunaru S, Wintermantel T, Greiner E, Schütz G, Offermanns S. Thyrocyte-specific Gq/G11 deficiency impairs thyroid function and prevents goiter development. J Clin Invest 2007; 117:2399-407. [PMID: 17694176 PMCID: PMC1937498 DOI: 10.1172/jci30380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2006] [Accepted: 05/29/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The function of the adult thyroid is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which acts through a G protein-coupled receptor. Overactivation of the TSH receptor results in hyperthyroidism and goiter. The Gs-mediated stimulation of adenylyl cyclase-dependent cAMP formation has been regarded as the principal intracellular signaling mechanism mediating the action of TSH. Here we show that the Gq/G11-mediated signaling pathway plays an unexpected and essential role in the regulation of thyroid function. Mice lacking the alpha subunits of Gq and G11 specifically in thyroid epithelial cells showed severely reduced iodine organification and thyroid hormone secretion in response to TSH, and many developed hypothyroidism within months after birth. In addition, thyrocyte-specific Galphaq/Galpha11-deficient mice lacked the normal proliferative thyroid response to TSH or goitrogenic diet, indicating an essential role of this pathway in the adaptive growth of the thyroid gland. Our data suggest that Gq/G11 and their downstream effectors are promising targets to interfere with increased thyroid function and growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Kero
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kashan Ahmed
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Wettschureck
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sorin Tunaru
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tim Wintermantel
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Erich Greiner
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Günther Schütz
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Offermanns
- Institute of Pharmacology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Division of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Calì G, Zannini M, Rubini P, Tacchetti C, D'Andrea B, Affuso A, Wintermantel T, Boussadia O, Terracciano D, Silberschmidt D, Amendola E, De Felice M, Schütz G, Kemler R, Di Lauro R, Nitsch L. Conditional inactivation of the E-cadherin gene in thyroid follicular cells affects gland development but does not impair junction formation. Endocrinology 2007; 148:2737-46. [PMID: 17347311 DOI: 10.1210/en.2006-1344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
We have conditionally inactivated the E-cadherin gene in the thyroid follicular cells of mouse embryo to unravel its role in thyroid development. We used the Cre-loxP system in which the Cre-recombinase was expressed under the control of the tissue-specific thyroglobulin promoter that becomes active at embryonic d 15. At postnatal d 7, thyroid follicle lumens in the knockout mice were about 30% smaller with respect to control mice and had an irregular shape. E-cadherin was almost completely absent in thyrocytes, beta-catenin was significantly reduced, whereas no change in gamma-catenin was detected. alpha-Catenin was also reduced on the cell plasma membrane. Despite the dramatic loss of E-cadherin and beta-catenin, cell-cell junctions were not affected, the distribution of tight junction proteins was unaltered, and no increase of thyroglobulin circulating in the blood was observed. In addition, we found that other members of the cadherin family, the R-cadherin and the Ksp-cadherin, were expressed in thyrocytes and that their membrane distribution was not altered in the E-cadherin conditional knockout mouse. Our results indicate that E-cadherin has a role in the development of the thyroid gland and in the expression of beta-catenin, but it is not essential for the maintenance of follicular cell adhesion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Calì
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Parlato R, Otto C, Begus Y, Stotz S, Schütz G. Specific ablation of the transcription factor CREB in sympathetic neurons surprisingly protects against developmentally regulated apoptosis. Development 2007; 134:1663-70. [PMID: 17376811 DOI: 10.1242/dev.02838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The cyclic-AMP response element-binding (CREB) protein family of transcription factors plays a crucial role in supporting the survival of neurons. However, a cell-autonomous role has not been addressed in vivo. To investigate the cell-specific role of CREB, we used as a model developing sympathetic neurons, whose survival in vitro is dependent on CREB activity. We generated mice lacking CREB in noradrenergic (NA) and adrenergic neurons and compared them with the phenotype of the germline CREB mutant. Whereas the germline CREB mutant revealed increased apoptosis of NA neurons and misplacement of sympathetic precursors, the NA neuron-specific mutation unexpectedly led to reduced levels of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in sympathetic ganglia during the period of naturally occurring neuronal death. A reduced level of p75 neurotrophin receptor expression in the absence of CREB was shown to be responsible. Thus, our analysis indicates that the activity of cell-autonomous pro-survival signalling is operative in developing sympathetic neurons in the absence of CREB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Parlato
- Department of Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Sutherland KD, Vaillant F, Alexander WS, Wintermantel TM, Forrest NC, Holroyd SL, McManus EJ, Schutz G, Watson CJ, Chodosh LA, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE. c-myc as a mediator of accelerated apoptosis and involution in mammary glands lacking Socs3. EMBO J 2006; 25:5805-15. [PMID: 17139252 PMCID: PMC1698901 DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2006] [Accepted: 10/31/2006] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins are critical attenuators of cytokine-mediated signalling in diverse tissues. To determine the importance of Socs3 in mammary development, we generated mice in which Socs3 was deleted in mammary epithelial cells. No overt phenotype was evident during pregnancy and lactation, indicating that Socs3 is not a key physiological regulator of prolactin signalling. However, Socs3-deficient mammary glands exhibited a profound increase in epithelial apoptosis and tissue remodelling, resulting in precocious involution. This phenotype was accompanied by augmented Stat3 activation and a marked increase in the level of c-myc. Moreover, induction of c-myc before weaning using an inducible transgenic model recapitulated the Socs3 phenotype, and elevated expression of likely c-myc target genes, E2F-1, Bax and p53, was observed. Our data establish Socs3 as a critical attenuator of pro-apoptotic pathways that act in the developing mammary gland and provide evidence that c-myc regulates apoptosis during involution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate D Sutherland
- VBCRC Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - François Vaillant
- VBCRC Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Warren S Alexander
- Cancer & Haematology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tim M Wintermantel
- Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natasha C Forrest
- VBCRC Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sheridan L Holroyd
- VBCRC Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Edward J McManus
- Cancer & Haematology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gunther Schutz
- Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christine J Watson
- Mammary Apoptosis and Development Group, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lewis A Chodosh
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Geoffrey J Lindeman
- VBCRC Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane E Visvader
- VBCRC Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- VBCRC Laboratory, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9345 2494; Fax: 61 3 9347 0852; E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
The mouse mammary gland is a complex tissue that proliferates and differentiates under the control of systemic hormones during puberty, pregnancy and lactation. Once a highly branched milk duct system has been established, during mid/late pregnancy, alveoli, little saccular outpouchings, sprout all over the ductal system and differentiate to become the sites of milk secretion. Here, we review the emerging network of the signaling pathways that connects hormonal stimuli with locally produced signaling molecules and the components of intracellular pathways that regulate alveologenesis and lactation. The powerful tools of mouse genetics have been instrumental in uncovering many of the signaling components involved in controlling alveolar and lactogenic differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cathrin Brisken
- National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) Molecular Oncology, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), 155 Chemin des Boveresses, CH-1066, Epalinges, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Naylor MJ, Li N, Cheung J, Lowe ET, Lambert E, Marlow R, Wang P, Schatzmann F, Wintermantel T, Schüetz G, Clarke AR, Mueller U, Hynes NE, Streuli CH. Ablation of beta1 integrin in mammary epithelium reveals a key role for integrin in glandular morphogenesis and differentiation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 171:717-28. [PMID: 16301336 PMCID: PMC2171573 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200503144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Integrin-mediated adhesion regulates the development and function of a range of tissues; however, little is known about its role in glandular epithelium. To assess the contribution of beta1 integrin, we conditionally deleted its gene in luminal epithelia during different stages of mouse mammary gland development and in cultured primary mammary epithelia. Loss of beta1 integrin in vivo resulted in impaired alveologenesis and lactation. Cultured beta1 integrin-null cells displayed abnormal focal adhesion function and signal transduction and could not form or maintain polarized acini. In vivo, epithelial cells became detached from the extracellular matrix but remained associated with each other and did not undergo overt apoptosis. beta1 integrin-null mammary epithelial cells did not differentiate in response to prolactin stimulation because of defective Stat5 activation. In mice where beta1 integrin was deleted after the initiation of differentiation, fewer defects in alveolar morphology occurred, yet major deficiencies were also observed in milk protein and milk fat production and Stat5 activation, indicating a permissive role for beta1 integrins in prolactin signaling. This study demonstrates that beta1 integrin is critical for the alveolar morphogenesis of a glandular epithelium and for maintenance of its differentiated function. Moreover, it provides genetic evidence for the cooperation between integrin and cytokine signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Naylor
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, England, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Stanke M, Duong CV, Pape M, Geissen M, Burbach G, Deller T, Gascan H, Otto C, Parlato R, Schütz G, Rohrer H. Target-dependent specification of the neurotransmitter phenotype: cholinergic differentiation of sympathetic neurons is mediated in vivo by gp 130 signaling. Development 2005; 133:141-50. [PMID: 16319110 DOI: 10.1242/dev.02189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sympathetic neurons are generated through a succession of differentiation steps that initially lead to noradrenergic neurons innervating different peripheral target tissues. Specific targets, like sweat glands in rodent footpads, induce a change from noradrenergic to cholinergic transmitter phenotype. Here, we show that cytokines acting through the gp 130 receptor are present in sweat glands. Selective elimination of the gp 130 receptor in sympathetic neurons prevents the acquisition of cholinergic and peptidergic features (VAChT, ChT1, VIP) without affecting other properties of sweat gland innervation. The vast majority of cholinergic neurons in the stellate ganglion, generated postnatally, are absent in gp 130-deficient mice. These results demonstrate an essential role of gp 130-signaling in the target-dependent specification of the cholinergic neurotransmitter phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Stanke
- Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Deutschordenstrasse 46, 60528 Frankfurt/M, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Schuler M, Ali F, Metzger E, Chambon P, Metzger D. Temporally controlled targeted somatic mutagenesis in skeletal muscles of the mouse. Genesis 2005; 41:165-70. [PMID: 15789425 DOI: 10.1002/gene.20107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
To generate temporally controlled targeted somatic mutations selectively and efficiently in skeletal muscles, we established a transgenic HSA-Cre-ER(T2) mouse line in which the expression of the tamoxifen-dependent Cre-ER(T2) recombinase is under the control of a large genomic DNA segment of the human skeletal muscle alpha-actin gene, contained in a P1-derived artificial chromosome. In this transgenic line Cre-ER(T2) is selectively expressed in skeletal muscles, and Cre-ER(T2)-mediated alteration of LoxP flanked (floxed) target genes is skeletal muscle-specific and strictly tamoxifen-dependent. HSA-Cre-ER(T2) mice should be of great value to analyze gene function in skeletal muscles, and to establish animal models of human skeletal muscle disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Schuler
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Louis Pasteur, Collège de France, Illkirch-Cedex, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
MacAuley A, Ladiges WC. Approaches to determine clinical significance of genetic variants. Mutat Res 2005; 573:205-20. [PMID: 15829249 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2005.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2004] [Revised: 08/24/2004] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The clinical significance of genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) has implications for risk assessment and also for predicting the outcome of a disease process, especially in response to intervention. Approaches to determine the clinical significance of genetic polymorphisms are now beginning to be developed. The technology tools and procedures currently available have significant potential in identifying and validating polymorphisms associated with environmentally sensitive phenotypes. Numerous concepts can now provide the methodology to selectively identify SNPs with the potential for impacting gene function. These include computational algorithms, biochemical assays, yeast mutagenicity assays, and epidemiological studies, either as a stand-alone screen, or in various combinations depending on the gene of interest. Proof of principle will ultimately depend on large-scale epidemiological and clinical studies, but will require intensive resources. Therefore, the use of the mouse as a preclinical biological model is paramount in helping screen valid SNPs or combinations of SNPs for human studies. But more importantly, mouse modeling will help answer the question of what role gene variants play in sensitivity or resistance to a wide variety of environmental insults ranging from toxic chemicals and carcinogens to more mundane and routine exposure items, such as dietary factors, air quality, over the counter and prescription medications, and ultraviolet light. Our focus on SNPs that result in an amino acid change is a matter of expediency because these variants are more amenable to the prescreening approaches currently available that are expected to help identify SNPs that affect protein function. The mouse models generated to evaluate the environmental relevance of selected SNPs will be extremely valuable biological tools to validate gene variant and environment interaction in a variety of settings. Informative mouse models will also provide the basis of pursuing relevant SNPs in epidemiological and clinical investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair MacAuley
- Comparative Mouse Genomics Center, Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Li N, Zhang Y, Naylor MJ, Schatzmann F, Maurer F, Wintermantel T, Schuetz G, Mueller U, Streuli CH, Hynes NE. Beta1 integrins regulate mammary gland proliferation and maintain the integrity of mammary alveoli. EMBO J 2005; 24:1942-53. [PMID: 15889143 PMCID: PMC1142608 DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2004] [Accepted: 04/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrin-extracellular matrix interactions play important roles in the coordinated integration of external and internal cues that are essential for proper development. To study the role of beta1 integrin in the mammary gland, Itgbeta1(flox/flox) mice were crossed with WAPiCre transgenic mice, which led to specific ablation of beta1 integrin in luminal alveolar epithelial cells. In the beta1 integrin mutant mammary gland, individual alveoli were disorganized resulting from alterations in cell-basement membrane associations. Activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was also decreased in mutant mammary glands. Luminal cell proliferation was strongly inhibited in beta1 integrin mutant glands, which correlated with a specific increase of p21 Cip1 expression. In a p21 Cip1 null background, there was a partial rescue of BrdU incorporation, providing in vivo evidence linking p21 Cip1 to the proliferative defect observed in beta1 integrin mutant glands. A connection between p21 Cip1 and beta1 integrin as well as FAK was also established in primary mammary cells. These results point to the essential role of beta1 integrin signaling in mammary epithelial cell proliferation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yu Zhang
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthew J Naylor
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Francisca Maurer
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tim Wintermantel
- Division Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gunther Schuetz
- Division Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Mueller
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Cell Biology, LaJolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Nancy E Hynes
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, 4058 Basel, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 61 697 8107; Fax: +41 61 697 8102; E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Wintermantel TM, Berger S, Greiner EF, Schütz G. Evaluation of steroid receptor function by gene targeting in mice. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2005; 93:107-12. [PMID: 15860252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2004.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Corticosteroid hormones regulate a variety of developmental, physiological and pathological processes via their cognate receptors, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Using modern genetic technologies, including bacterial artificial chromosome-based transgenesis and conditional gene targeting, we have generated a panel of tissue-specific and function-selective mutations of the two corticosteroid hormone receptors in the mouse. These mouse models have allowed us to gain new insights into corticosteroid hormone signaling in vivo. By investigating a hepatocyte-specific GR mutation, it has been possible to define a novel biological action of GR, namely to function as a coactivator for Stat5-mediated gene transcription in the control of body growth. The investigation of brain-specific mutations have not only allowed us to better understand hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation by glucocorticoids, but also to analyse corticosteroid action in various aspects of brain function like anxiety-related or addiction-related behaviour, and learning and memory. A function-selective mutation in the GR has allowed us to dissect different pathways in the gene expression regulation by this receptor, namely to separate DNA response element-binding dependent gene activation from response element-independent gene regulation via interference with other transcription factors. These different transcriptional activities of GR play an important role in glucocorticoid-mediated immunosuppression.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Alleles
- Animals
- Brain/metabolism
- Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial/genetics
- Cognition/physiology
- Feedback
- Gene Targeting/methods
- Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiology
- Immune System/metabolism
- Liver/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
- Mutagenesis
- Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiology
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/deficiency
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/physiology
- Receptors, Mineralocorticoid/deficiency
- Receptors, Mineralocorticoid/genetics
- Receptors, Mineralocorticoid/physiology
- Receptors, Steroid/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Steroid/deficiency
- Receptors, Steroid/genetics
- Receptors, Steroid/physiology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tim M Wintermantel
- Molecular Biology of the Cell I, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Florin L, Alter H, Gröne HJ, Szabowski A, Schütz G, Angel P. Cre recombinase-mediated gene targeting of mesenchymal cells. Genesis 2004; 38:139-44. [PMID: 15048811 DOI: 10.1002/gene.20004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Loss-of-function approaches by the Cre/loxP technology have provided powerful tools for functional analyses of genes of interest expressed preferentially in a particular tissue. Here we describe the generation of transgenic mouse lines expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the promoter/enhancer unit of the gene for the alpha2 chain of collagen type I (Col1alpha2). As an expression vector, we used a P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC), which harbors approximately 100 kb carrying the col1alpha2 gene. The improved coding sequence of the Cre recombinase was introduced to replace the first exon of col1alpha2. Cre expression was determined by immunohistochemistry and Cre-mediated onset of beta-galactosidase expression in ROSA26R-Cre reporter mice. In four analyzed transgenic lines, Cre recombinase was efficiently expressed during embryogenesis and in adult animals in cells of mesenchymal origin, such as dermal fibroblasts, mesenchymal cells of blood vessel walls, and cells in fibrous connective tissues surrounding internal organs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lore Florin
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Hadsell DL. Genetic Manipulation of Mammary Gland Development and Lactation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2004; 554:229-51. [PMID: 15384580 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4757-4242-8_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian genome is believed to contain some 30,000 to 40,000 different genes. Of these an estimated 42% have no known function. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) have been a powerful tool available for determining gene function in vivo. In the mammary gland, a variety of genetic engineering approaches have been applied successfully to understanding the importance of specific gene products to mammary gland development and lactation. Our own laboratory has applied genetically engineered mice to facilitate understanding of the regulation of mammary gland development and lactation by insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and by the transcription factor, upstream stimulatory factor (USF-2). Our studies on transgenic mice that overexpress IGF-I have demonstrated the importance of IGF-dependent signaling pathways to maintenance of mammary epithelial cells during the declining phase of lactation. Our analysis of early developmental processes in mammary tissue from mice that carry a targeted mutation in the IGF-I receptor gene suggests that IGF-dependent stimulation of cell cycle progression is more important to early mammary gland development than potential antiapoptotic effects. Lastly, our studies on mice that carry a targeted mutation of the Usf2 gene have demonstrated that this gene is necessary for normal lactation and have highlighted the importance of this gene to the maintenance of protein synthesis. These studies, as well as studies of others, have highlighted both the strengths and limitations inherent in the use of GEMM. Limitations serve as the driving force behind development of new experimental strategies and genetic engineering schemes that will allow for a full understanding of gene function within the mammary gland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darryl L Hadsell
- The USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|