1
|
Saeki N, Inui-Yamamoto C, Ikeda Y, Kanai R, Hata K, Itoh S, Inubushi T, Akiyama S, Ohba S, Abe M. Deletion of Trps1 regulatory elements recapitulates postnatal hip joint abnormalities and growth retardation of Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome in mice. Hum Mol Genet 2024:ddae102. [PMID: 38899779 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome (TRPS) is a genetic disorder caused by point mutations or deletions in the gene-encoding transcription factor TRPS1. TRPS patients display a range of skeletal dysplasias, including reduced jaw size, short stature, and a cone-shaped digit epiphysis. Certain TRPS patients experience early onset coxarthrosis that leads to a devastating drop in their daily activities. The etiologies of congenital skeletal abnormalities of TRPS were revealed through the analysis of Trps1 mutant mouse strains. However, early postnatal lethality in Trps1 knockout mice has hampered the study of postnatal TRPS pathology. Here, through epigenomic analysis we identified two previously uncharacterized candidate gene regulatory regions in the first intron of Trps1. We deleted these regions, either individually or simultaneously, and examined their effects on skeletal morphogenesis. Animals that were deleted individually for either region displayed only modest phenotypes. In contrast, the Trps1Δint/Δint mouse strain with simultaneous deletion of both genomic regions exhibit postnatal growth retardation. This strain displayed delayed secondary ossification center formation in the long bones and misshaped hip joint development that resulted in acetabular dysplasia. Reducing one allele of the Trps1 gene in Trps1Δint mice resulted in medial patellar dislocation that has been observed in some patients with TRPS. Our novel Trps1 hypomorphic strain recapitulates many postnatal pathologies observed in human TRPS patients, thus positioning this strain as a useful animal model to study postnatal TRPS pathogenesis. Our observations also suggest that Trps1 gene expression is regulated through several regulatory elements, thus guaranteeing robust expression maintenance in skeletal cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Saeki
- Department of Tissue and Developmental Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Special Needs Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Chizuko Inui-Yamamoto
- Department of Tissue and Developmental Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuki Ikeda
- Department of Tissue and Developmental Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Rinna Kanai
- Department of Tissue and Developmental Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Fixed Prosthodontics and Orofacial Function, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kenji Hata
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shousaku Itoh
- Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Inubushi
- Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shigehisa Akiyama
- Department of Special Needs Dentistry, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Ohba
- Department of Tissue and Developmental Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Makoto Abe
- Department of Tissue and Developmental Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Yamada-oka 1-8, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lennartz M, Löhr N, Höflmayer D, Dwertmann Rico S, von Bargen C, Kind S, Reiswich V, Viehweger F, Lutz F, Bertram V, Fraune C, Gorbokon N, Weidemann S, Blessin NC, Hube-Magg C, Menz A, Schlichter R, Krech T, Hinsch A, Burandt E, Sauter G, Simon R, Kluth M, Marx AH, Lebok P, Dum D, Minner S, Jacobsen F, Clauditz TS, Bernreuther C, Steurer S. TRPS1 is a Highly Sensitive Marker for Breast Cancer: A Tissue Microarray Study Evaluating More Than 19,000 Tumors From 152 Different Tumor Entities. Am J Surg Pathol 2024; 48:637-651. [PMID: 38647255 PMCID: PMC11093513 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000002213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome 1 (TRPS1) is a nuclear protein highly expressed in breast epithelial cells. TRPS1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been suggested as a breast cancer marker. To determine the diagnostic and prognostic utility of TRPS1 IHC, tissue microarrays containing 19,201 samples from 152 different tumor types and subtypes were analyzed. GATA3 IHC was performed in a previous study. TRPS1 staining was seen in 86 of 152 tumor categories with 36 containing at least one strongly positive case. TRPS1 staining predominated in various types of breast carcinomas (51%-100%), soft tissue tumors (up to 100%), salivary gland tumors (up to 46%), squamous cell carcinomas (up to 35%), and gynecological cancers (up to 40%). TRPS1 positivity occurred in 1.8% of 1083 urothelial neoplasms. In invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, low TRPS1 expression was linked to high grade ( P = 0.0547), high pT ( P < 0.0001), nodal metastasis ( P = 0.0571), loss of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression ( P < 0.0001 each), and triple-negative status ( P < 0.0001) but was unrelated to patient survival ( P = 0.8016). In squamous cell carcinomas from 11 different sites, low TRPS1 expression was unrelated to tumor phenotype. Positivity for both TRPS1 and GATA3 occurred in 47.4% to 100% of breast cancers, up to 30% of salivary gland tumors, and 29 (0.3%) of 9835 tumors from 134 other cancer entities. TRPS1 IHC has high utility for the identification of cancers of breast (or salivary gland) origin, especially in combination with GATA3. The virtual absence of TRPS1 positivity in urothelial neoplasms is useful for the distinction of GATA3-positive urothelial carcinoma from breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Lennartz
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Neele Löhr
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Doris Höflmayer
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Clara von Bargen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon Kind
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Viktor Reiswich
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Florian Viehweger
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Florian Lutz
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Veit Bertram
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Fraune
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Natalia Gorbokon
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sören Weidemann
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Niclas C. Blessin
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Hube-Magg
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Menz
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ria Schlichter
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Till Krech
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Pathology, Clinical Center Osnabrueck, Osnabrueck, Germany
| | - Andrea Hinsch
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eike Burandt
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guido Sauter
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ronald Simon
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martina Kluth
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas H. Marx
- Department of Pathology, Academic Hospital Fuerth, Fuerth, Germany
| | - Patrick Lebok
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Pathology, Clinical Center Osnabrueck, Osnabrueck, Germany
| | - David Dum
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Minner
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Frank Jacobsen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Till S. Clauditz
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Bernreuther
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Steurer
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu Y, Xu S, Lian X, Su Y, Zhong Y, Lv R, Mo K, Zhu H, Xiaojiang W, Xu L, Wang S. Atypical GATA protein TRPS1 plays indispensable roles in mouse two-cell embryo. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:437-451. [PMID: 30712485 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1577650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is one of the most critical events at the beginning of mammalian preimplantation embryo development (PED). The mechanisms underlying mouse ZGA remain unclear although it has been widely studied. In the present study, we identified that tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome 1 (TRPS1), an atypical GATA family member, is an important factor for ZGA in mouse PED. We found that the Trps1 mRNA level peaked at the one-cell stage while TRPS1 protein did so at the two/four-cell stage. Knockdown of Trps1 by the microinjection of Trps1 siRNA reduced the developmental rate of mouse preimplantation embryos by approximately 30%, and increased the expression of ZGA marker genes MuERV-L and Zscan4d via suppressing the expression of major histone markers H3K4me3 and H3K27me3. Furthermore, Trps1 knockdown decreased the expression of Sox2 but increased Oct4 expression. We conclude that TRPS1 may be indispensable for zygotic genome activation during mouse PED.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- a Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine , Fujian Province University
| | - Songhua Xu
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Xiuli Lian
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Yang Su
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Yuhuan Zhong
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Ruimin Lv
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Kaien Mo
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Huimin Zhu
- c Fujian Key Laboratory of Medical Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China.,d Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Wang Xiaojiang
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Lixuan Xu
- b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| | - Shie Wang
- a Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine , Fujian Province University.,b Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology , Fujian Medical University , Fuzhou , P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu J, Su P, Jiao M, Bai X, Qi M, Liu H, Wu Z, Sun J, Zhou G, Han B. TRPS1 Suppresses Breast Cancer Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Program as a Negative Regulator of SUZ12. Transl Oncol 2018; 11:416-425. [PMID: 29471243 PMCID: PMC5884189 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is among the most common malignant diseases and metastasis is the handcuff of treatment. Cancer metastasis is a multistep process associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. Several studies have demonstrated that transcriptional repressor GATA binding 1 (TRPS1) played important roles in development and progression of primary BC. In this study we sought to identify the mechanisms responsible for this function of TRPS1 in the continuum of the metastatic cascade. Here we described that TRPS1 was significantly associated with BC metastasis using public assessable datasets. Clinically, loss of TRPS1 expression in BC was related to higher histological grade. In vitro functional study and bioinformatics analysis revealed that TRPS1 inhibited cell migration and EMT in BC. Importantly, we identified SUZ12 as a novel target of TRPS1 related to EMT program. ChIP assay demonstrated TRPS1 directly inhibited SUZ12 transcription by binding to the SUZ12 promoter. Loss of TRPS1 resulted in increased SUZ12 binding and H3K27 tri-methylation at the CDH1 promoter and repression of E-cadherin. In all, our data indicated that TRPS1 maintained the expression of E-cadherin by inhibiting SUZ12, which might provide novel insight into how loss of TRPS1 contributed to BC progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hu
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Peng Su
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Meng Jiao
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xinnuo Bai
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Mei Qi
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zhen Wu
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Jingtian Sun
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Gengyin Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Bo Han
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, 250012, China; Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wu L, Wang Y, Liu Y, Yu S, Xie H, Shi X, Qin S, Ma F, Tan TZ, Thiery JP, Chen L. A central role for TRPS1 in the control of cell cycle and cancer development. Oncotarget 2015; 5:7677-90. [PMID: 25277197 PMCID: PMC4202153 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic cell cycle is controlled by a complex regulatory network, which is still poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that TRPS1, an atypical GATA factor, modulates cell proliferation and controls cell cycle progression. Silencing TRPS1 had a differential effect on the expression of nine key cell cycle-related genes. Eight of these genes are known to be involved in the regulation of the G2 phase and the G2/M transition of the cell cycle. Using cell synchronization studies, we confirmed that TRPS1 plays an important role in the control of cells in these phases of the cell cycle. We also show that silencing TRPS1 controls the expression of 53BP1, but not TP53. TRPS1 silencing also decreases the expression of two histone deacetylases, HDAC2 and HDAC4, as well as the overall HDAC activity in the cells, and leads to the subsequent increase in the acetylation of histone4 K16 but not of histone3 K9 or K18. Finally, we demonstrate that TRPS1 expression is elevated in luminal breast cancer cells and luminal breast cancer tissues as compared with other breast cancer subtypes. Overall, our study proposes that TRPS1 acts as a central hub in the control of cell cycle and proliferation during cancer development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lele Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China. Contributed equally to this work
| | - Yuzhi Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China. Contributed equally to this work
| | - Yan Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Shiyi Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Hao Xie
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Xingjuan Shi
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Sheng Qin
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fei Ma
- Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Cancer Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore. Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore. Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore
| | - Liming Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
The ATDC5 cell line is derived from mouse teratocarcinoma cells and characterized as a chondrogenic cell line which goes through a sequential process analogy to chondrocyte differentiation. Thus, it is regarded as a promising in vitro model to study the factors that influence cell behaviors during chondrogenesis. It also provides insights in exploring signaling pathways related to skeletal development as well as interactions with innovative materials. To date, over 200 studies have utilized ATDC5 to obtain lots of significant findings. In this review, we summarized the literature of ATDC5 related studies and emphasized the application of ATDC5 in chondrogenesis. In addition, the general introduction of ATDC5 including its derivation and characterization is covered in this article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongchang Yao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang Y, Xie RL, Gordon J, LeBlanc K, Stein JL, Lian JB, van Wijnen AJ, Stein GS. Control of mesenchymal lineage progression by microRNAs targeting skeletal gene regulators Trps1 and Runx2. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:21926-35. [PMID: 22544738 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.340398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) that target the osteogenic Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) define an interrelated network of miRNAs that control osteoblastogenesis. We addressed whether these miRNAs have functional targets beyond RUNX2 that coregulate skeletal development. Here, we find that seven RUNX2-targeting miRNAs (miR-23a, miR-30c, miR-34c, miR-133a, miR-135a, miR-205, and miR-217) also regulate the chondrogenic GATA transcription factor tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome I (TRPS1). Although the efficacy of each miRNA to target RUNX2 or TRPS1 differs in osteoblasts and chondrocytes, each effectively blocks maturation of precommitted osteoblasts and chondrocytes. Furthermore, these miRNAs can redirect mesenchymal stem cells into adipogenic cell fate with concomitant up-regulation of key lineage-specific transcription factors. Thus, a program of multiple miRNAs controls mesenchymal lineage progression by selectively blocking differentiation of osteoblasts and chondrocytes to control skeletal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
GATA transcription factor family members have been found to play a critical role in the differentiation of many tissue types. For example, GATA-3 has been found to be highly correlated with estrogen receptor α (ER) expression and is emerging as one of the "master regulators" in breast ductal epithelial cell differentiation. Recently, we discovered another GATA family member highly prevalent in breast cancer called the trichorhinophalangeal syndrome-1 gene (TRPS-1). Using a quantitative immunohistochemistry (qIHC) approach, we found that TRPS-1 was significantly correlated with ER, PR, GATA-3, as well as HER2 expression. However, TRPS-1 was also found to be expressed in a high proportion of ER(-) ductal epithelial breast cancers (BCs), indicating that it may act as a ductal epithelial cell-specific transcription factor regulating cell fate at some point in the epithelial cell differentiation pathway. In keeping with this hypothesis, we found that TRPS-1 protein expression in BC above a certain threshold using qIHC correlated with markedly improved overall survival. Cox proportional hazards analysis found that both TRPS-1 and ER expression above critical threshold equally predicted for improved survival. Thus, TRPS-1 may be a powerful new positive prognostic marker in BC, and further IHC studies, as well as examination of its molecular function in ductal epithelial cell differentiation in the breast, are warranted. In this regard, data on the role of TRPS-1 in the differentiation of cells from mesenchymal precursors in other tissues, such as kidney metanephric mesenchymal cells, columnar chondrocytes, and osteoblasts, in mouse models may be useful. Indeed, these studies have found that TRPS-1 is a critical regulator of mesenchymal-to-epithelial cell transition. In the mammary gland, the restricted expression of TRPS-1 in human, mouse, and rat ductal epithelial cells suggests that it may also play a similar role during ductal luminal progenitor/stem cell differentiation. We present a model of TRPS-1 action in which it may act upstream of GATA-3 and ER on an earlier ductal epithelial progenitor cell or mammary stem cell during mammary gland development and also helps prevent reversion of ER(+) BC cells back into mesenchymal-like cells. This model predicts that BCs with low or no TRPS-1 expression may inherently be much less differentiated and more aggressive tumors with less favorable prognosis.
Collapse
|