Enhancement of Lytic Activity by Leptin Is Independent From Lipid Rafts in Murine Primary Splenocytes

Disruption of TUFT1, a Desmosome-Associated Protein, Causes Skin Fragility, Woolly Hair, and Palmoplantar Keratoderma

Desmosomes are dynamic complex protein structures involved in cellular adhesion. Disruption of these structures by loss-of-function variants in desmosomal genes leads to a variety of skin- and heart-related phenotypes. In this study, we report TUFT1 as a desmosome-associated protein, implicated in epidermal integrity. In two siblings with mild skin fragility, woolly hair, and mild palmoplantar keratoderma but without a cardiac phenotype, we identified a homozygous splice-site variant in the TUFT1 gene, leading to aberrant mRNA splicing and loss of TUFT1 protein. Patients' skin and keratinocytes showed acantholysis, perinuclear retraction of intermediate filaments, and reduced mechanical stress resistance. Immunolabeling and transfection studies showed that TUFT1 is positioned within the desmosome and that its location is dependent on the presence of the desmoplakin carboxy-terminal tail. A Tuft1-knockout mouse model mimicked the patients' phenotypes. Altogether, this study reveals TUFT1 as a desmosome-associated protein, whose absence causes skin fragility, woolly hair, and palmoplantar keratoderma.

EO771, the first luminal B mammary cancer cell line from C57BL/6 mice

Background

Despite decades of therapeutic trials, effective diagnosis, many drugs available and numerous studies on breast cancer, it remains the deadliest cancer in women. In order to choose the most appropriate treatment and to understand the prognosis of the patients, breast cancer is divided into different subtypes using a molecular classification. Just as there remains a need to discover new effective therapies, models to test them are also required.

Methods

The EO771 (also named E0771 or EO 771) murine mammary cancer cell line was originally isolated from a spontaneous tumour in C57BL/6 mouse. Although frequently used, this cell line remains poorly characterized. Therefore, the EO771 phenotype was investigated. The phenotype was compared to that of MCF-7 cells, known to be of luminal A subtype and to express estrogen receptors, as well as MDA-MB-231 cells, which are triple negative. Their sensitivity to hormonal treatment was evaluated by viability tests.

Results

The EO771 were estrogen receptor α negative, estrogen receptor β positive, progesterone receptor positive and ErbB2 positive. This phenotype was associated with a sensitivity to anti-estrogen treatments such as tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, endoxifen and fulvestrant.

Conclusions

On account of the numerous results published with the EO771 cell line, it is important to know its classification, to facilitate comparisons with corresponding types of tumours in patients. Transcriptomic and protein analysis of the EO771 cell line classified it within the luminal B subtype. Luminal B cancers correspond to one of the subtypes most frequently encountered in patients and associated with a poor prognosis.