1
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Wang W, Cen Y, Lu Z, Xu Y, Sun T, Xiao Y, Liu W, Li JJ, Wang C. scCDC: a computational method for gene-specific contamination detection and correction in single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-seq data. Genome Biol 2024; 25:136. [PMID: 38783325 PMCID: PMC11112958 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03284-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In droplet-based single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-seq assays, systematic contamination of ambient RNA molecules biases the quantification of gene expression levels. Existing methods correct the contamination for all genes globally. However, there lacks specific evaluation of correction efficacy for varying contamination levels. Here, we show that DecontX and CellBender under-correct highly contaminating genes, while SoupX and scAR over-correct lowly/non-contaminating genes. Here, we develop scCDC as the first method to detect the contamination-causing genes and only correct expression levels of these genes, some of which are cell-type markers. Compared with existing decontamination methods, scCDC excels in decontaminating highly contaminating genes while avoiding over-correction of other genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijian Wang
- Centre of Biomedical Systems and Informatics, International Campus, ZJU-UoE Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, 314400, China
| | - Yihui Cen
- Centre of Biomedical Systems and Informatics, International Campus, ZJU-UoE Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, 314400, China
| | - Zezhen Lu
- Centre of Biomedical Systems and Informatics, International Campus, ZJU-UoE Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, 314400, China
| | - Yueqing Xu
- Centre of Biomedical Systems and Informatics, International Campus, ZJU-UoE Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, 314400, China
| | - Tianyi Sun
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ying Xiao
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310020, China
| | - Wanlu Liu
- Centre of Biomedical Systems and Informatics, International Campus, ZJU-UoE Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, 314400, China
| | - Jingyi Jessica Li
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Chaochen Wang
- Centre of Biomedical Systems and Informatics, International Campus, ZJU-UoE Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, 314400, China.
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310020, China.
- Biomedical and Health Translational Research Centre, Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, 314400, China.
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2
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Tollot-Wegner M, Jessen M, Kim K, Sanz-Moreno A, Spielmann N, Gailus-Durner V, Fuchs H, Hrabe de Angelis M, von Eyss B. TRPS1 maintains luminal progenitors in the mammary gland by repressing SRF/MRTF activity. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:74. [PMID: 38702730 PMCID: PMC11067134 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01824-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor TRPS1 is a context-dependent oncogene in breast cancer. In the mammary gland, TRPS1 activity is restricted to the luminal population and is critical during puberty and pregnancy. Its function in the resting state remains however unclear. To evaluate whether it could be a target for cancer therapy, we investigated TRPS1 function in the healthy adult mammary gland using a conditional ubiquitous depletion mouse model where long-term depletion does not affect fitness. Using transcriptomic approaches, flow cytometry and functional assays, we show that TRPS1 activity is essential to maintain a functional luminal progenitor compartment. This requires the repression of both YAP/TAZ and SRF/MRTF activities. TRPS1 represses SRF/MRTF activity indirectly by modulating RhoA activity. Our work uncovers a hitherto undisclosed function of TRPS1 in luminal progenitors intrinsically linked to mechanotransduction in the mammary gland. It may also provide new insights into the oncogenic functions of TRPS1 as luminal progenitors are likely the cells of origin of many breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Tollot-Wegner
- Transcriptional Control of Tissue Homeostasis Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute E.V., Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Marco Jessen
- Transcriptional Control of Tissue Homeostasis Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute E.V., Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - KyungMok Kim
- Transcriptional Control of Tissue Homeostasis Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute E.V., Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Adrián Sanz-Moreno
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstr.1, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nadine Spielmann
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstr.1, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Valerie Gailus-Durner
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstr.1, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Helmut Fuchs
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstr.1, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabe de Angelis
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstaedter Landstr.1, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Experimental Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Alte Akademie 8, 85354, Freising, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstaedter Landstraße. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Björn von Eyss
- Transcriptional Control of Tissue Homeostasis Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute E.V., Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745, Jena, Germany.
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3
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Ren S, Bai F, Schnell V, Stanko C, Ritsch M, Schenk T, Barth E, Marz M, Wang B, Pei XH, Bierhoff H. PAPAS promotes differentiation of mammary epithelial cells and suppresses breast carcinogenesis. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113644. [PMID: 38180837 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113644] [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] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Extensive remodeling of the female mammary epithelium during development and pregnancy has been linked to cancer susceptibility. The faithful response of mammary epithelial cells (MECs) to hormone signaling is key to avoiding breast cancer development. Here, we show that lactogenic differentiation of murine MECs requires silencing of genes encoding ribosomal RNA (rRNA) by the antisense transcript PAPAS. Accordingly, knockdown of PAPAS derepresses rRNA genes, attenuates the response to lactogenic hormones, and induces malignant transformation. Restoring PAPAS levels in breast cancer cells reduces tumorigenicity and lung invasion and activates many interferon-regulated genes previously linked to metastasis suppression. Mechanistically, PAPAS transcription depends on R-loop formation at the 3' end of rRNA genes, which is repressed by RNase H1 and replication protein A (RPA) overexpression in breast cancer cells. Depletion of PAPAS and upregulation of RNase H1 and RPA in human breast cancer underpin the clinical relevance of our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Ren
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, 07745 Jena, Germany; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Anatomy and Histology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China; Leibniz-Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Viviane Schnell
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, 07745 Jena, Germany; Leibniz-Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Clara Stanko
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany; Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Muriel Ritsch
- Bioinformatics Core Facility Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany; RNA Bioinformatics/High Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Tino Schenk
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany; Institute of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Emanuel Barth
- Bioinformatics Core Facility Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany; RNA Bioinformatics/High Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- Bioinformatics Core Facility Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany; RNA Bioinformatics/High Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xin-Hai Pei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, International Cancer Center, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Anatomy and Histology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Holger Bierhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, 07745 Jena, Germany; Leibniz-Institute on Aging-Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstr. 11, 07745 Jena, Germany.
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4
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Wicker MN, Wagner KU. Cellular Plasticity in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5605. [PMID: 38067308 PMCID: PMC10705338 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15235605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular plasticity is a phenomenon where cells adopt different identities during development and tissue homeostasis as a response to physiological and pathological conditions. This review provides a general introduction to processes by which cells change their identity as well as the current definition of cellular plasticity in the field of mammary gland biology. Following a synopsis of the evolving model of the hierarchical development of mammary epithelial cell lineages, we discuss changes in cell identity during normal mammary gland development with particular emphasis on the effect of the gestation cycle on the emergence of new cellular states. Next, we summarize known mechanisms that promote the plasticity of epithelial lineages in the normal mammary gland and highlight the importance of the microenvironment and extracellular matrix. A discourse of cellular reprogramming during the early stages of mammary tumorigenesis that follows focuses on the origin of basal-like breast cancers from luminal progenitors and oncogenic signaling networks that orchestrate diverse developmental trajectories of transforming epithelial cells. In addition to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, we highlight events of cellular reprogramming during breast cancer progression in the context of intrinsic molecular subtype switching and the genesis of the claudin-low breast cancer subtype, which represents the far end of the spectrum of epithelial cell plasticity. In the final section, we will discuss recent advances in the design of genetically engineered models to gain insight into the dynamic processes that promote cellular plasticity during mammary gland development and tumorigenesis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kay-Uwe Wagner
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Tumor Biology Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, EL01TM, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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5
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Gray GK, Girnius N, Kuiken HJ, Henstridge AZ, Brugge JS. Single-cell and spatial analyses reveal a tradeoff between murine mammary proliferation and lineage programs associated with endocrine cues. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113293. [PMID: 37858468 PMCID: PMC10840493 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Although distinct epithelial cell types have been distinguished in glandular tissues such as the mammary gland, the extent of heterogeneity within each cell type and the degree of endocrine control of this diversity across development are incompletely understood. By combining mass cytometry and cyclic immunofluorescence, we define a rich array of murine mammary epithelial cell subtypes associated with puberty, the estrous cycle, and sex. These subtypes are differentially proliferative and spatially segregate distinctly in adult versus pubescent glands. Further, we identify systematic suppression of lineage programs at the protein and RNA levels as a common feature of mammary epithelial expansion during puberty, the estrous cycle, and gestation and uncover a pervasive enrichment of ribosomal protein genes in luminal cells elicited specifically during progesterone-dominant expansionary periods. Collectively, these data expand our knowledge of murine mammary epithelial heterogeneity and connect endocrine-driven epithelial expansion with lineage suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Kenneth Gray
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nomeda Girnius
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; The Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hendrik J Kuiken
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aylin Z Henstridge
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joan S Brugge
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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6
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Singh P, Ali SA. Mature white adipocyte plasticity during mammary gland remodelling and cancer. CELL INSIGHT 2023; 2:100123. [PMID: 37771567 PMCID: PMC10522874 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2023.100123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Mammary gland growth and differentiation predominantly rely on stromal-epithelial cellular communication. Specifically, mammary adipocytes play a crucial role in ductal morphogenesis, as well as in the proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. The process of lactation entails a reduction in the levels of white adipose tissue associated with the MG, allowing for the expansion of milk-producing epithelial cells. Subsequently, during involution and the regression of the milk-producing unit, adipocyte layers resurface, occupying the vacated space. This dynamic phenomenon underscores the remarkable plasticity and expansion of adipose tissue. Traditionally considered terminally differentiated, adipocytes have recently been found to exhibit plasticity in certain contexts. Unraveling the significance of this cell type within the MG could pave the way for novel approaches to reduce the risk of breast cancer and enhance lactation performance. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of adipocyte trans- and de-differentiation processes holds promise for the development of innovative therapeutic interventions targeting cancer, fibrosis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other related diseases. Additionally, adipocytes may find utility in the realm of regenerative medicine. This review article provides a comprehensive examination of recent advancements in our understanding of MG remodelling, with a specific focus on the tissue-specific functions of adipocytes and their role in the development of cancer. By synthesizing current knowledge in this field, it aims to consolidate our understanding of adipocyte biology within the context of mammary gland biology, thereby fostering further research and discovery in this vital area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parul Singh
- Cell Biology and Proteomics Lab, Animal Biotechnology Center, ICAR-NDRI, 132001, India
- Division of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Syed Azmal Ali
- Cell Biology and Proteomics Lab, Animal Biotechnology Center, ICAR-NDRI, 132001, India
- Division Proteomics of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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7
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Josan C, Podinic T, Pfaff N, Raha S. Effect of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on milk proteins and lipid levels in HC11 cells. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272819. [PMID: 35976913 PMCID: PMC9384983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant and lactating women have been discouraged from using cannabis by Health Canada. However, the increasing rate of cannabis use among pregnant women has presented an urgent need to investigate its physiological effects during the perinatal period. During pregnancy, the mammary gland (MG) undergoes remodeling, which involves alveolar differentiation of mammary epithelial cells (MECs), which is essential for breast milk production and secretion. Limited evidence has been reported on the impact of cannabis or its components, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), on MG development or MEC differentiation. In this study, we investigated the effects of THC and CBD on the differentiation of MECs by assessing changes in cellular viability, lipid accumulation, and gene and protein expression of major milk protein and lipid synthesizing markers. using the HC11 cells as a model. We hypothesized that THC and CBD will negatively impact the synthesis of milk proteins and lipids, as well as lipid markers in HC11 cells. Our results demonstrated that THC and CBD reduced cellular viability at concentrations above 30μM and 20μM, respectively. Relative to control, 10μM THC and 10μM CBD reduced mRNA levels of milk proteins (CSN2 and WAP), lipid synthesizing and glucose transport markers (GLUT 1, HK2, FASN, FABP4, PLIN2 and LPL), as well as whey acidic protein and lipid levels. In addition, co-treatment of a CB2 antagonist with THC, and a CB2 agonist with CBD, reversed the impact of THC and CBD on the mRNA levels of key markers, respectively. In conclusion, 10μM THC and CBD altered the differentiation of HC11 cells, in part via the CB2 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitmandeep Josan
- Department of Pediatrics and the Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tina Podinic
- Department of Pediatrics and the Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nikko Pfaff
- Department of Pediatrics and the Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandeep Raha
- Department of Pediatrics and the Graduate Programme in Medical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Dynamic miRNA Landscape Links Mammary Gland Development to the Regulation of Milk Protein Expression in Mice. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060727. [PMID: 35327124 PMCID: PMC8944794 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Milk synthesis is vital for maintaining the normal growth of newborn animals. Abnormal mammary gland development leads to a decrease in female productivity and the overall productivity of animal husbandry. This study characterized the dynamic miRNA expression profile during the process of mammary gland development, and identified a novel miRNA regulating expression of β-casein—an important milk protein. The results are valuable for studying mammary gland development, increasing milk production, improving the survival rate of pups, and promoting the development of animal husbandry. Abstract Mammary gland morphology varies considerably between pregnancy and lactation status, e.g., virgin to pregnant and lactation to weaning. Throughout these critical developmental phases, the mammary glands undergo remodeling to accommodate changes in milk production capacity, which is positively correlated with milk protein expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in female ICR mice’s mammary glands at the virgin stage (V), day 16 of pregnancy (P16d), day 12 of lactation (L12d), day 1 of forced weaning (FW1d), and day 3 of forced weaning (FW3d), and to identify the miRNAs regulating milk protein gene expression. During the five stages of testing, 852 known miRNAs and 179 novel miRNAs were identified in the mammary glands. Based on their expression patterns, the identified miRNAs were grouped into 12 clusters. The expression pattern of cluster 1 miRNAs was opposite to that of milk protein genes in mammary glands in all five different stages. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that the predicted target genes of cluster 1 miRNAs were related to murine mammary gland development and lactation. Furthermore, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed that the novel-mmu-miR424-5p, which belongs to the cluster 1 miRNAs, was expressed in murine mammary epithelial cells. The dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that an important milk protein gene—β-casein (CSN2)—was regarded as one of the likely targets for the novel-mmu-miR424-5p. This study analyzed the expression patterns of miRNAs in murine mammary glands throughout five critical developmental stages, and discovered a novel miRNA involved in regulating the expression of CSN2. These findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of the developmental biology of mammary glands, providing guidelines for increasing lactation efficiency and milk quality.
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Wang W, Rana PS, Alkrekshi A, Bialkowska K, Markovic V, Schiemann WP, Plow EF, Pluskota E, Sossey-Alaoui K. Targeted Deletion of Kindlin-2 in Mouse Mammary Glands Inhibits Tumor Growth, Invasion, and Metastasis Downstream of a TGF-β/EGF Oncogenic Signaling Pathway. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030639. [PMID: 35158908 PMCID: PMC8833458 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths due in part to its invasive and metastatic properties. Kindlin-2 (FERMT2) is associated with the pathogenesis of several cancers. Although the role of Kindlin-2 in regulating the invasion-metastasis cascade in BC is widely documented, its function in BC initiation and progression remains to be fully elucidated. Accordingly, we generated a floxed mouse strain by targeting the Fermt2 (K2lox/lox) locus, followed by tissue-specific deletion of Kindlin-2 in the myoepithelial compartment of the mammary glands by crossing the K2lox/lox mice with K14-Cre mice. Loss of Kindlin-2 in mammary epithelial cells (MECs) showed no deleterious effects on mammary gland development, fertility, and lactation in mice bearing Kindlin-2-deletion. However, in a syngeneic mouse model of BC, mammary gland, specific knockout of Kindlin-2 inhibited the growth and metastasis of murine E0771 BC cells inoculated into the mammary fat pads. However, injecting the E0771 cells into the lateral tail vein of Kindlin-2-deleted mice had no effect on tumor colonization in the lungs, thereby establishing a critical role of MEC Kindlin-2 in supporting BC tumor growth and metastasis. Mechanistically, we found the MEC Kindlin-2-mediated inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis is accomplished through its regulation of the TGF-β/ERK MAP kinase signaling axis. Thus, Kindlin-2 within the mammary gland microenvironment facilitates the progression and metastasis of BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (W.W.); (P.S.R.); (A.A.)
- Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
| | - Priyanka S. Rana
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (W.W.); (P.S.R.); (A.A.)
- Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
| | - Akram Alkrekshi
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (W.W.); (P.S.R.); (A.A.)
- Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
| | - Katarzyna Bialkowska
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (K.B.); (E.F.P.)
| | - Vesna Markovic
- Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
| | - William P. Schiemann
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
| | - Edward F. Plow
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (K.B.); (E.F.P.)
| | - Elzbieta Pluskota
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; (K.B.); (E.F.P.)
- Correspondence: (E.P.); (K.S.-A.)
| | - Khalid Sossey-Alaoui
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; (W.W.); (P.S.R.); (A.A.)
- Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA;
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
- Correspondence: (E.P.); (K.S.-A.)
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Slepicka PF, Somasundara AVH, Dos Santos CO. The molecular basis of mammary gland development and epithelial differentiation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 114:93-112. [PMID: 33082117 PMCID: PMC8052380 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of the molecular events underpinning the development of mammalian organ systems has been increasing rapidly in recent years. With the advent of new and improved next-generation sequencing methods, we are now able to dig deeper than ever before into the genomic and epigenomic events that play critical roles in determining the fates of stem and progenitor cells during the development of an embryo into an adult. In this review, we detail and discuss the genes and pathways that are involved in mammary gland development, from embryogenesis, through maturation into an adult gland, to the role of pregnancy signals in directing the terminal maturation of the mammary gland into a milk producing organ that can nurture the offspring. We also provide an overview of the latest research in the single-cell genomics of mammary gland development, which may help us to understand the lineage commitment of mammary stem cells (MaSCs) into luminal or basal epithelial cells that constitute the mammary gland. Finally, we summarize the use of 3D organoid cultures as a model system to study the molecular events during mammary gland development. Our increased investigation of the molecular requirements for normal mammary gland development will advance the discovery of targets to predict breast cancer risk and the development of new breast cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Ferreira Slepicka
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Camila O Dos Santos
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
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García Solá ME, Stedile M, Beckerman I, Kordon EC. An Integrative Single-cell Transcriptomic Atlas of the Post-natal Mouse Mammary Gland Allows Discovery of New Developmental Trajectories in the Luminal Compartment. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021; 26:29-42. [PMID: 33913090 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-021-09488-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammary gland is a highly dynamic organ which undergoes periods of expansion, differentiation and cell death in each reproductive cycle. Partly because of the dynamic nature of the gland, mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are extraordinarily heterogeneous. Single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) analyses have contributed to understand the cellular and transcriptional heterogeneity of this complex tissue. Here, we integrate scRNA-seq data from three foundational reports that have explored the mammary gland cell populations throughout development at single-cell level using 10× Chromium Drop-Seq. We center our analysis on post-natal development of the mammary gland, from puberty to post-involution. The new integrated study corresponds to RNA sequences from 53,686 individual cells, which greatly outnumbers the three initial data sets. The large volume of information provides new insights, as a better resolution of the previously detected Procr+ stem-like cell subpopulation or the identification of a novel group of MECs expressing immune-like markers. Moreover, here we present new pseudo-temporal trajectories of MEC populations at two resolution levels, that is either considering all mammary cell subtypes or focusing specifically on the luminal lineages. Interestingly, the luminal-restricted analysis reveals distinct expression patterns of various genes that encode milk proteins, suggesting specific and non-redundant roles for each of them. In summary, our data show that the application of bioinformatic tools to integrate multiple scRNA-seq data-sets helps to describe and interpret the high level of plasticity involved in gene expression regulation throughout mammary gland post-natal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín E García Solá
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE), CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Micaela Stedile
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE), CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Inés Beckerman
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE), CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Edith C Kordon
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIByNE), CONICET, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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12
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Qin H, Lu S, Thangaraju M, Cowell JK. Wasf3 Deficiency Reveals Involvement in Metastasis in a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 189:2450-2458. [PMID: 31542393 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The WASF3 gene has been implicated in cancer cell movement, invasion, and metastasis by regulating genetic pathways important in these processes. Invasion and metastasis assays, however, are largely centered on xenograft models in immune-compromised mice. To facilitate analysis of the role of WASF3 in the spontaneous development of cancer cell metastasis, we generated a Wasf3 null strain by deleting exons 4 and 5, which encode essential motifs for Wasf3 function. On exposure to cre-recombinase a stop codon is generated immediately downstream in exon 6. Using a cytomegalovirus (CMV)-cre strain, Wasf3 constitutively was inactivated, which led to viable mice with no visible morphologic or behavioral abnormalities. There was no abnormal development or function of the mouse mammary gland in the Wasf3 null mice and brain development was normal. In the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-driven polyoma middle-T oncogene strain, which shows early onset breast cancer development and metastasis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family member 3 (Wasf3) is up-regulated in metastatic lesions. When this oncogene was introduced onto the Wasf3-null background, although metastasis was observed in these mice, there was a reduction in the number and size of metastatic lesions in the lungs. These data provide evidence for a role in WASF3 in the development of metastasis in a spontaneous model of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Qin
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Sumin Lu
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Muthusamy Thangaraju
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - John K Cowell
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia.
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13
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Hue-Beauvais C, Laubier J, Brun N, Houtia I, Jaffrezic F, Bevilacqua C, Le Provost F, Charlier M. Puberty is a critical window for the impact of diet on mammary gland development in the rabbit. Dev Dyn 2019; 248:948-960. [PMID: 31348557 PMCID: PMC6790954 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nutritional changes can affect future lactation efficiency. In a rabbit model, an obesogenic diet initiated before puberty and pursued throughout pregnancy enhances mammary differentiation, but when started during the neonatal period can cause abnormal mammary development in early pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an unbalanced diet administered during the pubertal period only. Results Consuming an obesogenic diet at puberty did not affect either metabolic parameters or certain maternal reproductive parameters at the onset of adulthood. In contrast, at Day 8 of pregnancy, epithelial tissue showed a lower proliferation rate in obesogenic‐diet fed rabbits than in control‐diet fed rabbits. Wap and Cx26 genes, mammary epithelial cell differentiation markers, were upregulated although Wap protein level remained unchanged. However, the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and in alveolar formation was not modified. Conclusion Taken together, our results demonstrate that the consumption for 5 weeks of an obesogenic diet during the pubertal period initiates mammary structure modifications and affects mammary epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. Our findings highlight the potentially important role played by unbalanced nutrition during critical early‐life windows in terms of regulating mammary epithelial cell differentiation and subsequent function in adulthood. Our results demonstrate that the consumption for five weeks of an obesogenic diet during the pubertal period initiates mammary structure modifications and affects mammary epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. Our findings highlight the potentially important role played by unbalanced nutrition during critical early‐life windows in terms of regulating mammary epithelial cell differentiation and subsequent function in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy Hue-Beauvais
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Johann Laubier
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Nicolas Brun
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Inès Houtia
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Florence Jaffrezic
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Claudia Bevilacqua
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Madia Charlier
- GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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14
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Cinti S. Anatomy and physiology of the nutritional system. Mol Aspects Med 2019; 68:101-107. [PMID: 30965049 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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15
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Lee HK, Willi M, Shin HY, Liu C, Hennighausen L. Progressing super-enhancer landscape during mammary differentiation controls tissue-specific gene regulation. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:10796-10809. [PMID: 30285185 PMCID: PMC6237736 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammary luminal lineage relies on the common cytokine-sensing transcription factor STAT5 to establish super-enhancers during pregnancy and initiate a genetic program that activates milk production. As pups grow, the greatly increasing demand for milk requires progressive differentiation of mammary cells with advancing lactation. Here we investigate how persistent hormonal exposure during lactation shapes an evolving enhancer landscape and impacts the biology of mammary cells. Employing ChIP-seq, we uncover a changing transcription factor occupancy at mammary enhancers, suggesting that their activities evolve with advancing differentiation. Using mouse genetics, we demonstrate that the functions of individual enhancers within the Wap super-enhancer evolve as lactation progresses. Most profoundly, a seed enhancer, which is mandatory for the activation of the Wap super-enhancer during pregnancy, is not required during lactation, suggesting compensatory flexibility. Combinatorial deletions of structurally equivalent constituent enhancers demonstrated differentiation-specific compensatory activities during lactation. We also demonstrate that the Wap super-enhancer, which is built on STAT5 and other common transcription factors, retains its exquisite mammary specificity when placed into globally permissive chromatin, suggesting a limited role of chromatin in controlling cell specificity. Our studies unveil a previously unrecognized progressive enhancer landscape where structurally equivalent components serve unique and differentiation-specific functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Kyung Lee
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michaela Willi
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ha Youn Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Chengyu Liu
- Transgenic Core, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lothar Hennighausen
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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16
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Shin HY, Hennighausen L, Yoo KH. STAT5-Driven Enhancers Tightly Control Temporal Expression of Mammary-Specific Genes. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2019; 24:61-71. [PMID: 30328555 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-018-9418-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The de novo formation of milk-secreting mammary epithelium during pregnancy is regulated by prolactin through activation of the transcription factor STAT5, which stimulates the expression of several hundred mammary-specific genes. In addition to its key role in activating gene expression in mammary tissue, STAT5, which is ubiquitously expressed in most cell types, implements T cell-specific programs controlled by interleukins. However, the mechanisms by which STAT5 controls cell-specific genetic programs activated by distinct cytokines remain relatively unknown. Integration of data from genome-wide surveys of chromatin markers and transcription factor binding at regulatory elements may shed light on the mechanisms that drive cell-specific programs. Here, we have illustrated how STAT5 controls cell-specific gene expression through its concentration and an auto-regulatory enhancer supporting its high levels in mammary tissue. The unique genomic features of STAT5-driven enhancers or super-enhancers that regulate mammary-specific genes and their dynamic remodeling in response to pregnancy hormone levels are described. We have further provided biological evidence supporting the in vivo function of a STAT5-driven super-enhancer with the aid of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Finally, we discuss how the functions of mammary-specific super-enhancers are confined by the zinc finger protein, CTCF, to allow exclusive activation of mammary-specific genes without affecting common neighboring genes. This review comprehensively summarizes the molecular pathways underlying differential control of cell-specific gene sets by STAT5 and provides novel insights into STAT5-dependent mammary physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Youn Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Lothar Hennighausen
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- BK21 PLUS Project, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hyun Yoo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Bu W, Liu Z, Jiang W, Nagi C, Huang S, Edwards DP, Jo E, Mo Q, Creighton CJ, Hilsenbeck SG, Leavitt AD, Lewis MT, Wong STC, Li Y. Mammary Precancerous Stem and Non-Stem Cells Evolve into Cancers of Distinct Subtypes. Cancer Res 2018; 79:61-71. [PMID: 30401712 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There are distinct cell subpopulations in normal epithelial tissue, including stem cells, progenitor cells, and more differentiated cells, all of which have been extensively studied for their susceptibility to tumorigenesis. However, normal cells usually have to progress through a precancerous lesion state before becoming a full-blown tumor. Precancerous early lesions are heterogeneous, and the cell subset that is the primary source of the eventual tumor remains largely unknown. By using mouse models that are tailored to address this question, we identified a keratin 6a-expressing precancerous stem cell (PcSC) subset and a more differentiated whey acidic protein-positive (WAP+) cell subset in mammary precancerous lesions initiated by the Wnt1 oncogene. Both cell subsets rapidly progressed to cancer upon introduction of constitutively active versions of either HRAS or BRAF. However, the resulting tumors were dramatically different in protein profiles and histopathology: keratin 6a+ precancerous cells gave rise to adenocarcinoma, whereas WAP+ cells yielded metaplastic carcinoma with severe squamous differentiation and more robust activation of MEK/ERK signaling. Therefore, both stem and non-stem cells in mammary precancerous lesions can contribute to the eventual cancers, but their differentiation status determines the resulting cancer phenotype. This work identifies a previously unknown player in cancer heterogeneity and suggests that cancer prevention should target precancerous cells broadly and not be limited to PcSC. SIGNIFICANCE: This work uses a novel mouse mammary gland cancer model to show that tumors initiated from different precancerous mammary epithelial cells are distinct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Bu
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Weiyu Jiang
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Chandandeep Nagi
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Shixia Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Dean P Edwards
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Eunji Jo
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Qianxing Mo
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Susan G Hilsenbeck
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Andrew D Leavitt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Michael T Lewis
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine (Division of Hematology/Oncology), UCSF, San Francisco, California
| | - Stephen T C Wong
- Department of Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Yi Li
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. .,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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18
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Abstract
Adipocytes are lipid-rich parenchymal cells contained in a very plastic organ, whose composition can undergo striking physiologic changes. In standard conditions the organ contains white and brown adipocytes which play opposite roles: lipid storage to meet metabolic requirements and lipid burning for thermogenesis, respectively. During chronic cold exposure, white adipocytes transdifferentiate to brown, to increase thermogenesis, whereas in conditions of chronic positive energy balance brown adipocytes transdifferentiate to white, to increase energy stores. During pregnancy, lactation, and post-lactation, subcutaneous white adipocytes convert to milk-producing glands formed by lipid-rich elements that can be defined as pink adipocytes. Recent fate-mapping data support the conversion of pink to brown adipocytes and the reversible conversion of brown adipocytes to myoepithelial cells of alveoli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Cinti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Center of Obesity, University of Ancona (Politecnica delle Marche), Via Tronto 10a, 60020 Ancona, Italy.
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19
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Palombo V, Loor JJ, D'Andrea M, Vailati-Riboni M, Shahzad K, Krogh U, Theil PK. Transcriptional profiling of swine mammary gland during the transition from colostrogenesis to lactogenesis using RNA sequencing. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:322. [PMID: 29724161 PMCID: PMC5934875 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4719-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Colostrum and milk are essential sources of antibodies and nutrients for the neonate, playing a key role in their survival and growth. Slight abnormalities in the timing of colostrogenesis/lactogenesis potentially threaten piglet survival. To further delineate the genes and transcription regulators implicated in the control of the transition from colostrogenesis to lactogenesis, we applied RNA-seq analysis of swine mammary gland tissue from late-gestation to farrowing. Three 2nd parity sows were used for mammary tissue biopsies on days 14, 10, 6 and 2 before (−) parturition and on day 1 after (+) parturition. A total of 15 mRNA libraries were sequenced on a HiSeq2500 (Illumina Inc.). The Dynamic Impact Approach and the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis were used for pathway analysis and gene network analysis, respectively. Results A large number of differentially expressed genes were detected very close to parturition (−2d) and at farrowing (+ 1d). The results reflect the extraordinary metabolic changes in the swine mammary gland once it enters into the crucial phases of lactogenesis and underscore a strong transcriptional component in the control of colostrogenesis. There was marked upregulation of genes involved in synthesis of colostrum and main milk components (i.e. proteins, fat, lactose and antimicrobial factors) with a pivotal role of CSN1S2, LALBA, WAP, SAA2, and BTN1A1. The sustained activation of transcription regulators such as SREBP1 and XBP1 suggested they help coordinate these adaptations. Conclusions Overall, the precise timing for the transition from colostrogenesis to lactogenesis in swine mammary gland remains uncharacterized. However, our transcriptomic data support the hypothesis that the transition occurs before parturition. This is likely attributable to upregulation of a wide array of genes including those involved in ‘Protein and Carbohydrate Metabolism’, ‘Immune System’, ‘Lipid Metabolism’, ‘PPAR signaling pathway’ and ‘Prolactin signaling pathway’ along with the activation of transcription regulators controlling lipid synthesis and endoplasmic reticulum biogenesis and stress response. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4719-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Palombo
- Dipartimento Agricoltura Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, via Francesco De Sanctis s.n.c, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - J J Loor
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - M D'Andrea
- Dipartimento Agricoltura Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, via Francesco De Sanctis s.n.c, 86100, Campobasso, Italy
| | - M Vailati-Riboni
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - K Shahzad
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - U Krogh
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Foulum, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark
| | - P K Theil
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Foulum, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark.
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20
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Reczek CR, Shakya R, Miteva Y, Szabolcs M, Ludwig T, Baer R. The DNA resection protein CtIP promotes mammary tumorigenesis. Oncotarget 2017; 7:32172-83. [PMID: 27058754 PMCID: PMC5078005 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Many DNA repair factors act to suppress tumor formation by preserving genomic stability. Similarly, the CtIP protein, which interacts with the BRCA1 tumor suppressor, is also thought to have tumor suppression activity. Through its role in DNA end resection, CtIP facilitates DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair by homologous recombination (DSBR-HR) and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ). In addition, however, CtIP has also been implicated in the formation of aberrant chromosomal rearrangements in an MMEJ-dependent manner, an activity that could potentially promote tumor development by increasing genome instability. To clarify whether CtIP acts in vivo to suppress or promote tumorigenesis, we have examined its oncogenic potential in mouse models of human breast cancer. Surprisingly, mice heterozygous for a null Ctip allele did not display an increased susceptibility to tumor formation. Moreover, mammary-specific biallelic CtIP ablation did not elicit breast tumors in a manner reminiscent of BRCA1 loss. Instead, CtIP inactivation dramatically reduced the kinetics of mammary tumorigenesis in mice bearing mammary-specific lesions of the p53 gene. Thus, unlike other repair factors, CtIP is not a tumor suppressor, but has oncogenic properties that can promote tumorigenesis, consistent with its ability to facilitate MMEJ-dependent chromosomal instability. Consequently, inhibition of CtIP-mediated MMEJ may prove effective against tumor types, such as human breast cancer, that display MMEJ-dependent chromosomal rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen R Reczek
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Reena Shakya
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Current address: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Yana Miteva
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Matthias Szabolcs
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Thomas Ludwig
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.,Current address: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Richard Baer
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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21
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Characterization of mammary-specific disruptions for Tph1 and Lrp5 during murine lactation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15155. [PMID: 29123193 PMCID: PMC5680223 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15508-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin is a homeostatic regulator of the mammary gland during lactation. The contribution of mammary-derived serotonin to circulating serum serotonin concentrations was previously unknown. We have developed mice with mammary-specific disruptions of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1) or low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (Lrp5) that are induced during late pregnancy and lactation via use of the whey acidic protein (WAP)-Cre cre-lox system. Our objective was to characterize dams with a lactation- and mammary-specific disruption of Lrp5 (WAP-Cre × Lrp5FL/FL) or Tph1 (WAP-Cre × Tph1FL/FL). Milk yield and pup weights were recorded throughout lactation. Dams were euthanized on d10 postpartum and mammary glands and duodenal tissue were harvested. WAP-Cre × Lrp5FL/FL dams had elevated serotonin concentrations in both the mammary gland and circulation compared to controls. In contrast, WAP-Cre × Tph1FL/FL dams had decreased mammary gland and serum serotonin concentrations compared to controls. Alveolar morphology, milk yield, and pup weights were similar. Mammary-derived serotonin makes a significant contribution to circulating serotonin concentrations during lactation, with no effect on milk yield or alveolar morphology. These transgenic models can and should be confidently used in future lactation studies to further elucidate the contribution of serotonin to the maintenance of lactation.
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22
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Abstract
Milk is a unique and complete nutritive source for the mammal neonate, also providing immune protection and developmental signals. Lactation is a complex process, proper to the mother and child dyad, and including numerous variables ranging from psychological aspects to the secretory functioning of the mammary epithelial cells, all contributing to a successful breastfeeding. This review gives an integrated overview of the physiology of lactation with a particular focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in milk product secretion and their regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Truchet
- VIM, UR 892 INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Edith Honvo-Houéto
- GABI, INRA/AgroParisTech/Université Paris-Saclay, Domaine de Vilvert, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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23
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Preparing and Analyzing Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) Library for the Mammary Tissue of Local Turkish Kivircik Sheep. Int J Genomics 2017; 2017:9604762. [PMID: 28239610 PMCID: PMC5292376 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9604762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Kivircik sheep is an important local Turkish sheep according to its meat quality and milk productivity. The aim of this study was to analyze gene expression profiles of both prenatal and postnatal stages for the Kivircik sheep. Therefore, two different cDNA libraries, which were taken from the same Kivircik sheep mammary gland tissue at prenatal and postnatal stages, were constructed. Total 3072 colonies which were randomly selected from the two libraries were sequenced for developing a sheep ESTs collection. We used Phred/Phrap computer programs for analysis of the raw EST and readable EST sequences were assembled with the CAP3 software. Putative functions of all unique sequences and statistical analysis were determined by Geneious software. Total 422 ESTs have over 80% similarity to known sequences of other organisms in NCBI classified by Panther database for the Gene Ontology (GO) category. By comparing gene expression profiles, we observed some putative genes that may be relative to reproductive performance or play important roles in milk synthesis and secretion. A total of 2414 ESTs have been deposited to the NCBI GenBank database (GW996847–GW999260). EST data in this study have provided a new source of information to functional genome studies of sheep.
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LPA receptor activity is basal specific and coincident with early pregnancy and involution during mammary gland postnatal development. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35810. [PMID: 27808166 PMCID: PMC5093903 DOI: 10.1038/srep35810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, luminal and basal epithelial cells of the adult mammary gland proliferate and differentiate resulting in remodeling of the adult gland. While pathways that control this process have been characterized in the gland as a whole, the contribution of specific cell subtypes, in particular the basal compartment, remains largely unknown. Basal cells provide structural and contractile support, however they also orchestrate the communication between the stroma and the luminal compartment at all developmental stages. Using RNA-seq, we show that basal cells are extraordinarily transcriptionally dynamic throughout pregnancy when compared to luminal cells. We identified gene expression changes that define specific basal functions acquired during development that led to the identification of novel markers. Enrichment analysis of gene sets from 24 mouse models for breast cancer pinpoint to a potential new function for insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1r) in the basal epithelium during lactogenesis. We establish that β-catenin signaling is activated in basal cells during early pregnancy, and demonstrate that this activity is mediated by lysophosphatidic acid receptor 3 (Lpar3). These findings identify novel pathways active during functional maturation of the adult mammary gland.
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Histone Demethylase KDM6A Controls the Mammary Luminal Lineage through Enzyme-Independent Mechanisms. Mol Cell Biol 2016; 36:2108-20. [PMID: 27215382 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00089-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Establishment of the mammary luminal cell lineage is controlled primarily by hormones and through specific transcription factors (TFs). Previous studies have linked histone methyltransferases to the differentiation of mammary epithelium, thus opening the possibility of biological significance of counteracting demethylases. We have now demonstrated an essential role for the H3K27me3 demethylase KDM6A in generating a balanced alveolar compartment. Deletion of Kdm6a in the mammary luminal cell lineage led to a paucity of luminal cells and an excessive expansion of basal cells, both in vivo and in vitro The inability to form structurally normal ducts and alveoli during pregnancy resulted in lactation failure. Mutant luminal cells did not exhibit their distinctive transcription factor pattern and displayed basal characteristics. The genomic H3K27me3 landscape was unaltered in mutant tissue, and support for a demethylase-independent mechanism came from mice expressing a catalytically inactive KDM6A. Mammary tissue developed normally in these mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) experiments demonstrated KDM6A binding to putative enhancers enriched for key mammary TFs and H3K27ac. This study demonstrated for the first time that the mammary luminal lineage relies on KDM6A to ensure a transcription program leading to differentiated alveoli. Failure to fully implement this program results in structurally and functionally impaired mammary tissue.
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Targeted Vaccination against Human α-Lactalbumin for Immunotherapy and Primary Immunoprevention of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:cancers8060056. [PMID: 27322324 PMCID: PMC4931621 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8060056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Revised: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We have proposed that safe and effective protection against the development of adult onset cancers may be achieved by vaccination against tissue-specific self-proteins that are “retired” from expression at immunogenic levels in normal tissues as we age, but are overexpressed in emerging tumors. α-Lactalbumin is an example of a “retired” self-protein because its expression in normal tissues is confined exclusively to the breast during late pregnancy and lactation, but is also expressed in the vast majority of human triple negative breast cancers (TNBC)—the most aggressive and lethal form of breast cancer and the predominant form that occurs in women at high genetic risk including those with mutated BRCA1 genes. In anticipation of upcoming clinical trials, here we provide preclinical data indicating that α-lactalbumin has the potential as a vaccine target for inducing safe and effective primary immunoprevention as well as immunotherapy against TNBC.
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Yagdiran Y, Oskarsson A, Knight CH, Tallkvist J. ABC- and SLC-Transporters in Murine and Bovine Mammary Epithelium--Effects of Prochloraz. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151904. [PMID: 27028005 PMCID: PMC4814071 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Some chemicals are ligands to efflux transporters which may result in high concentrations in milk. Limited knowledge is available on the influence of maternal exposure to chemicals on the expression and function of transporters in the lactating mammary gland. We determined gene expression of ABC and SLC transporters in murine mammary tissue of different gestation and lactation stages, in murine mammary cells (HC11) featuring resting and secreting phenotypes and in bovine mammary tissue and cells (BME-UV). Effects on transporter expression and function of the imidazole fungicide prochloraz, previously reported to influence BCRP in mammary cells, was investigated on transporter expression and function in the two cell lines. Transporters studied were BCRP, MDR1, MRP1, OATP1A5/OATP1A2, OCTN1 and OCT1. Gene expressions of BCRP and OCT1 in murine mammary glands were increased during gestation and lactation, whereas MDR1, MRP1, OATP1A5 and OCTN1 were decreased, compared to expressions in virgins. All transporters measured in mammary glands of mice were detected in bovine mammary tissue and in HC11 cells, while only MDR1 and MRP1 were detected in BME-UV cells. Prochloraz treatment induced MDR1 gene and protein expression in both differentiated HC11 and BME-UV cells and increased protein function in HC11 cells, resulting in decreased accumulation of the MDR1 substrate digoxin. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that murine (HC11) and bovine (BME-UV) mammary epithelial cells can be applied to characterize expression and function of transporters as well as effects of contaminants on the mammary transporters. An altered expression, induced by a drug or toxic chemical, on any of the transporters expressed in the mammary epithelial cells during lactation may modulate the well-balanced composition of nutrients and/or secretion of contaminants in milk with potential adverse effects on breast-fed infants and dairy consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yagmur Yagdiran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Agneta Oskarsson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christopher H. Knight
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Jonas Tallkvist
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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28
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Binder AK, Kosak JP, Janhardhan KS, Moser G, Eling TE, Korach KS. Expression of Human NSAID Activated Gene 1 in Mice Leads to Altered Mammary Gland Differentiation and Impaired Lactation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0146518. [PMID: 26745373 PMCID: PMC4706436 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenic mice expressing human non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activated gene 1 (NAG-1) have less adipose tissue, improved insulin sensitivity, lower insulin levels and are resistant to dietary induced obesity. The hNAG-1 expressing mice are more metabolically active with a higher energy expenditure. This study investigates female reproduction in the hNAG-1 transgenic mice and finds the female mice are fertile but have reduced pup survival after birth. Examination of the mammary glands in these mice suggests that hNAG-1 expressing mice have altered mammary epithelial development during pregnancy, including reduced occupancy of the fat pad and increased apoptosis via TUNEL positive cells on lactation day 2. Pups nursing from hNAG-1 expressing dams have reduced milk spots compared to pups nursing from WT dams. When CD-1 pups were cross-fostered with hNAG-1 or WT dams; reduced milk volume was observed in pups nursing from hNAG-1 dams compared to pups nursing from WT dams in a lactation challenge study. Milk was isolated from WT and hNAG-1 dams, and the milk was found to have secreted NAG-1 protein (approximately 25 ng/mL) from hNAG-1 dams. The WT dams had no detectable hNAG-1 in the milk. A decrease in non-esterified free fatty acids in the milk of hNAG-1 dams was observed. Altered milk composition suggests that the pups were receiving inadequate nutrients during perinatal development. To examine this hypothesis serum was isolated from pups and clinical chemistry points were measured. Male and female pups nursing from hNAG-1 dams had reduced serum triglyceride concentrations. Microarray analysis revealed that genes involved in lipid metabolism are differentially expressed in hNAG-1 mammary glands. Furthermore, the expression of Cidea/CIDEA that has been shown to regulate milk lipid secretion in the mammary gland was reduced in hNAG-1 mammary glands. This study suggests that expression of hNAG-1 in mice leads to impaired lactation and reduces pup survival due to altered milk quality and quantity.
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Affiliation(s)
- April K. Binder
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Justin P. Kosak
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kyathanahalli S. Janhardhan
- Integrated Laboratory Systems Incorporated, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Glenda Moser
- Integrated Laboratory Systems Incorporated, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Eling
- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kenneth S. Korach
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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29
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Yang J, Jiang J, Liu X, Wang H, Guo G, Zhang Q, Jiang L. Differential expression of genes in milk of dairy cattle during lactation. Anim Genet 2015; 47:174-80. [PMID: 26692495 PMCID: PMC5064620 DOI: 10.1111/age.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The milk fat globule (MFG) is one of the most representative of mammary gland tissues and can be utilized to study gene expression of lactating cows during lactation. In this study, RNA-seq technology was employed to detect differential expression of genes in MFGs at day 10 and day 70 after calving between two groups of cows with extremely high (H group) and low (L group) 305-day milk yield, milk fat yield and milk protein yield. In total, 1232, 81, 429 and 178 significantly differentially expressed genes (false discovery rate q < 0.05) were detected between H10 and L10, H70 and L70, H10 and H70, and L10 and L70 respectively. Gene Ontology enrichment and pathway analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes were enriched in biological processes involved in mammary gland development, protein and lipid metabolism process, signal transduction, cellular process, differentiation and immune function. Among these differentially expressed genes, 178 (H10 vs. L10), 4 (H70 vs. L70), 68 (H10 vs. H70) and 22 (L10 vs. L70) were found to be located within previously reported QTL regions for milk production traits. Based on these results, some promising candidate genes for milk production traits in dairy cattle were suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jicai Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Haifei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Gang Guo
- Beijing Sanyuan Breeding Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
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30
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Paten AM, Duncan EJ, Pain SJ, Peterson SW, Kenyon PR, Blair HT, Dearden PK. Functional development of the adult ovine mammary gland--insights from gene expression profiling. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:748. [PMID: 26437771 PMCID: PMC4595059 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1947-9] [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] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The mammary gland is a dynamic organ that undergoes dramatic physiological adaptations during the transition from late pregnancy to lactation. Investigation of the molecular basis of mammary development and function will provide fundamental insights into tissue remodelling as well as a better understanding of milk production and mammary disease. This is important to livestock production systems and human health. Here we use RNA-seq to identify differences in gene expression in the ovine mammary gland between late pregnancy and lactation. Results Between late pregnancy (135 days of gestation ± 2.4 SD) and lactation (15 days post partum ± 1.27 SD) 13 % of genes in the sheep genome were differentially expressed in the ovine mammary gland. In late pregnancy, cell proliferation, beta-oxidation of fatty acids and translation were identified as key biological processes. During lactation, high levels of milk fat synthesis were mirrored by enrichment of genes associated with fatty acid biosynthesis, transport and lipogenesis. Protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum was enriched during lactation, likely in support of active milk protein synthesis. Hormone and growth factor signalling and activation of signal transduction pathways, including the JAK-STAT and PPAR pathways, were also differently regulated, indicating key roles for these pathways in functional development of the ovine mammary gland. Changes in the expression of epigenetic regulators, particularly chromatin remodellers, indicate a possible role in coordinating the large-scale transcriptional changes that appear to be required to switch mammary processes from growth and development during late pregnancy to synthesis and secretion of milk during lactation. Conclusions Coordinated transcriptional regulation of large numbers of genes is required to switch between mammary tissue establishment during late pregnancy, and activation and maintenance of milk production during lactation. Our findings indicate the remarkable plasticity of the mammary gland, and the coordinated regulation of multiple genes and pathways to begin milk production. Genes and pathways identified by the present study may be important for managing milk production and mammary development, and may inform studies of diseases affecting the mammary gland. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1947-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Paten
- Laboratory for Evolution and Development, Genetics Otago, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,International Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,Gravida; National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Elizabeth J Duncan
- Laboratory for Evolution and Development, Genetics Otago, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,Gravida; National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Sarah J Pain
- International Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,Gravida; National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Sam W Peterson
- International Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,Gravida; National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Paul R Kenyon
- International Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,Gravida; National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Hugh T Blair
- International Sheep Research Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,Gravida; National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Peter K Dearden
- Laboratory for Evolution and Development, Genetics Otago, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, Aotearoa, New Zealand. .,Gravida; National Centre for Growth and Development, Auckland, New Zealand.
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31
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Tao L, van Bragt MPA, Li Z. A Long-Lived Luminal Subpopulation Enriched with Alveolar Progenitors Serves as Cellular Origin of Heterogeneous Mammary Tumors. Stem Cell Reports 2015; 5:60-74. [PMID: 26120057 PMCID: PMC4618443 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that the mammary luminal lineage could be maintained by luminal stem cells or long-lived progenitors, but their identity and role in breast cancer remain largely elusive. By lineage analysis using Wap-Cre mice, we found that, in nulliparous females, mammary epithelial cells (MECs) genetically marked by Wap-Cre represented a subpopulation of CD61+ luminal progenitors independent of ovarian hormones for their maintenance. Using a pulse-chase lineage-tracing approach based on Wap-Cre adenovirus (Ad-Wap-Cre), we found that Ad-Wap-Cre-marked nulliparous MECs were enriched with CD61+ alveolar progenitors (APs) that gave rise to CD61- alveolar luminal cells during pregnancy/lactation and could maintain themselves long term. When transformed by different oncogenes, they could serve as cells of origin of heterogeneous mammary tumors. Thus, our study revealed a type of long-lived AP within the luminal lineage that may serve as the cellular origin of multiple breast cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luwei Tao
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maaike P A van Bragt
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhe Li
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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32
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Hein SM, Haricharan S, Johnston AN, Toneff MJ, Reddy JP, Dong J, Bu W, Li Y. Luminal epithelial cells within the mammary gland can produce basal cells upon oncogenic stress. Oncogene 2015; 35:1461-7. [PMID: 26096929 PMCID: PMC4688047 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In the normal mammary gland, the basal epithelium is known to be bipotent and can generate either basal or luminal cells, whereas the luminal epithelium has not been demonstrated to contribute to the basal compartment in an intact and normally developed mammary gland. It is not clear whether cellular heterogeneity within a breast tumor results from transformation of bipotent basal cells or from transformation and subsequent basal conversion of the more differentiated luminal cells. Here we used a retroviral vector to express an oncogene specifically in a small number of the mammary luminal epithelial cells and tested their potential to produce basal cells during tumorigenesis. This in-vivo lineage-tracing work demonstrates that luminal cells are capable of producing basal cells on activation of either polyoma middle T antigen or ErbB2 signaling. These findings reveal the plasticity of the luminal compartment during tumorigenesis and provide an explanation for cellular heterogeneity within a cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Hein
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Haricharan
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A N Johnston
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M J Toneff
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J P Reddy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Dong
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - W Bu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Y Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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33
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Tarulli GA, Laven-Law G, Shakya R, Tilley WD, Hickey TE. Hormone-sensing mammary epithelial progenitors: emerging identity and hormonal regulation. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2015; 20:75-91. [PMID: 26390871 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-015-9344-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The hormone-sensing mammary epithelial cell (HS-MEC-expressing oestrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PGR)) is often represented as being terminally differentiated and lacking significant progenitor activity after puberty. Therefore while able to profoundly influence the proliferation and function of other MEC populations, HS-MECs are purported not to respond to sex hormone signals by engaging in significant cell proliferation during adulthood. This is a convenient and practical simplification that overshadows the sublime, and potentially critical, phenotypic plasticity found within the adult HS-MEC population. This concept is exemplified by the large proportion (~80 %) of human breast cancers expressing PGR and/or ERα, demonstrating that HS-MECs clearly proliferate in the context of breast cancer. Understanding how HS-MEC proliferation and differentiation is driven could be key to unraveling the mechanisms behind uncontrolled HS-MEC proliferation associated with ERα- and/or PGR-positive breast cancers. Herein we review evidence for the existence of a HS-MEC progenitor and the emerging plasticity of the HS-MEC population in general. This is followed by an analysis of hormones other than oestrogen and progesterone that are able to influence HS-MEC proliferation and differentiation: androgens, prolactin and transforming growth factor-beta1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard A Tarulli
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia.
| | - Geraldine Laven-Law
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Reshma Shakya
- Breast Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Centre for Personalised Cancer Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Wayne D Tilley
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Theresa E Hickey
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
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34
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Prokesch A, Smorlesi A, Perugini J, Manieri M, Ciarmela P, Mondini E, Trajanoski Z, Kristiansen K, Giordano A, Bogner-Strauss JG, Cinti S. Molecular aspects of adipoepithelial transdifferentiation in mouse mammary gland. Stem Cells 2015; 32:2756-66. [PMID: 24898182 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Revised: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The circular, reversible conversion of the mammary gland during pregnancy and involution is a paradigm of physiological tissue plasticity. The two most prominent cell types in mammary gland, adipocytes and epithelial cells, interact in an orchestrated way to coordinate this process. Previously, we showed that this conversion is at least partly achieved by reciprocal transdifferentiation between mammary adipocytes and lobulo-alveolar epithelial cells. Here, we aim to shed more light on the regulators of mammary transdifferentiation. Using immunohistochemistry with cell type-specific lipid droplet-coating markers (Perilipin1 and 2), we show that cells with an intermediate adipoepithelial phenotype exist during and after pregnancy. Nuclei of cells with similar transitional structural characteristics are highly positive for Elf5, a master regulator of alveologenesis. In cultured adipocytes, we could show that transient and stable ectopic expression of Elf5 induces expression of the milk component whey acidic protein, although the general adipocyte phenotype is not affected suggesting that additional pioneering factors are necessary. Furthermore, the lack of transdifferentiation of adipocytes during pregnancy after clearing of the epithelial compartment indicates that transdifferentiation signals must emanate from the epithelial part. To explore candidate genes potentially involved in the transdifferentiation process, we devised a high-throughput gene expression study to compare cleared mammary fat pads with developing, contralateral controls at several time points during pregnancy. Incorporation of bioinformatic predictions of secretory proteins provides new insights into possible paracrine signaling pathways and downstream transdifferentiation factors. We discuss a potential role for osteopontin (secreted phosphoprotein 1 [Spp1]) signaling through integrins to induce adipoepithelial transdifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Prokesch
- Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse, Graz, Austria; Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse, Graz, Austria
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35
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A model of secreting murine mammary epithelial HC11 cells comprising endogenous Bcrp/Abcg2 expression and function. Cell Biol Toxicol 2015; 31:111-20. [DOI: 10.1007/s10565-015-9298-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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36
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Epithelial Xbp1 is required for cellular proliferation and differentiation during mammary gland development. Mol Cell Biol 2015; 35:1543-56. [PMID: 25713103 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00136-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Xbp1, a key mediator of the unfolded protein response (UPR), is activated by IRE1α-mediated splicing, which results in a frameshift to encode a protein with transcriptional activity. However, the direct function of Xbp1 in epithelial cells during mammary gland development is unknown. Here we report that the loss of Xbp1 in the mammary epithelium through targeted deletion leads to poor branching morphogenesis, impaired terminal end bud formation, and spontaneous stromal fibrosis during the adult virgin period. Additionally, epithelial Xbp1 deletion induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the epithelium and dramatically inhibits epithelial proliferation and differentiation during lactation. The synthesis of milk and its major components, α/β-casein and whey acidic protein (WAP), is significantly reduced due to decreased prolactin receptor (Prlr) and ErbB4 expression in Xbp1-deficient mammary epithelium. Reduction of Prlr and ErbB4 expression and their diminished availability at the cell surface lead to reduced phosphorylated Stat5, an essential regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation during lactation. As a result, lactating mammary glands in these mice produce less milk protein, leading to poor pup growth and postnatal death. These findings suggest that the loss of Xbp1 induces a terminal UPR which blocks proliferation and differentiation during mammary gland development.
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37
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Holloway KR, Sinha VC, Toneff MJ, Bu W, Hilsenbeck SG, Li Y. Krt6a-positive mammary epithelial progenitors are not at increased vulnerability to tumorigenesis initiated by ErbB2. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117239. [PMID: 25635772 PMCID: PMC4311910 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
While most breast cancers are thought to arise from the luminal layer of the breast tissue, it remains unclear which specific cells in the luminal layer are the cells of origin of breast cancer. We have previously reported that WAP-positive luminal epithelial cells are at increased susceptibility to tumor initiation by ErbB2 compared to the bulk population, while the mammary cells with canonical Wnt signaling activity fail to evolve into tumors upon ErbB2 activation. Here, we used retrovirus to introduce ErbB2 into the Krt6a-positive mammary progenitor subset of the luminal epithelium and, for comparison, into the mammary luminal epithelium indiscriminately. Tumors developed from both groups of cells with a similar latency. These data indicate that the Krt6a-positive subset of mammary epithelial cells can be induced to form cancer by ErbB2 but it is not more susceptible to tumorigenesis initiated by ErbB2 than the bulk population of the luminal epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly R. Holloway
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Vidya C. Sinha
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Toneff
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Wen Bu
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Susan G. Hilsenbeck
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Yi Li
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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38
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Production of recombinant human proinsulin in the milk of transgenic mice. Sci Rep 2014; 4:6465. [PMID: 25267062 PMCID: PMC4179469 DOI: 10.1038/srep06465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a steady increasing demand for insulin worldwide. Current insulin manufacturing capacities can barely meet this increasing demand. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of producing human proinsulin in the milk of transgenic animals. Four lines of transgenic mice harboring a human insulin cDNA with expression driven by the goat β-casein gene promoter were generated. The expression level of human proinsulin in milk was as high as 8.1 g/L. The expression of the transgene was only detected in the mammary gland during lactation, with higher levels at mid-lactation and lower levels at early and late lactation. The blood glucose and insulin levels and the major milk compositions were unchanged, and the transgenic animals had no apparent health defects. The mature insulin derived from the milk proinsulin retained its biological activity. In conclusion, our study provides supporting evidence to explore the production of high levels of human proinsulin in the milk of dairy animals.
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Effect of glycogen synthase kinase-3 inactivation on mouse mammary gland development and oncogenesis. Oncogene 2014; 34:3514-26. [PMID: 25195860 PMCID: PMC4490903 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many components of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway have critical functions in mammary gland development and tumor formation, yet the contribution of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3α and GSK-3β) to mammopoiesis and oncogenesis is unclear. Here, we report that WAP-Cre-mediated deletion of GSK-3 in the mammary epithelium results in activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and induces mammary intraepithelial neoplasia that progresses to squamous transdifferentiation and development of adenosquamous carcinomas at 6 months. To uncover possible β-catenin-independent activities of GSK-3, we generated mammary-specific knockouts of GSK-3 and β-catenin. Squamous transdifferentiation of the mammary epithelium was largely attenuated, however, mammary epithelial cells lost the ability to form mammospheres suggesting perturbation of stem cell properties unrelated to loss of β-catenin alone. At 10 months, adenocarcinomas that developed in glands lacking GSK-3 and β-catenin displayed elevated levels of γ-catenin/plakoglobin as well as activation of the Hedgehog and Notch pathways. Collectively, these results establish the two isoforms of GSK-3 as essential integrators of multiple developmental signals that act to maintain normal mammary gland function and suppress tumorigenesis.
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40
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Tuohy VK. Retired self-proteins as vaccine targets for primary immunoprevention of adult-onset cancers. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 13:1447-62. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2014.953063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Abstract
While it has been known for decades that androgen hormones influence normal breast development and breast carcinogenesis, the underlying mechanisms have only been recently elucidated. To date, most studies have focused on androgen action in breast cancer cell lines, yet these studies represent artificial systems that often do not faithfully replicate/recapitulate the cellular, molecular and hormonal environments of breast tumours in vivo. It is critical to have a better understanding of how androgens act in the normal mammary gland as well as in in vivo systems that maintain a relevant tumour microenvironment to gain insights into the role of androgens in the modulation of breast cancer development. This in turn will facilitate application of androgen-modulation therapy in breast cancer. This is particularly relevant as current clinical trials focus on inhibiting androgen action as breast cancer therapy but, depending on the steroid receptor profile of the tumour, certain individuals may be better served by selectively stimulating androgen action. Androgen receptor (AR) protein is primarily expressed by the hormone-sensing compartment of normal breast epithelium, commonly referred to as oestrogen receptor alpha (ERa (ESR1))-positive breast epithelial cells, which also express progesterone receptors (PRs) and prolactin receptors and exert powerful developmental influences on adjacent breast epithelial cells. Recent lineage-tracing studies, particularly those focussed on NOTCH signalling, and genetic analysis of cancer risk in the normal breast highlight how signalling via the hormone-sensing compartment can influence normal breast development and breast cancer susceptibility. This provides an impetus to focus on the relationship between androgens, AR and NOTCH signalling and the crosstalk between ERa and PR signalling in the hormone-sensing component of breast epithelium in order to unravel the mechanisms behind the ability of androgens to modulate breast cancer initiation and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard A Tarulli
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL)Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Lisa M Butler
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL)Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Wayne D Tilley
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL)Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Theresa E Hickey
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories (DRMCRL)Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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Qian X, Zhao FQ. Collaborative interaction of Oct-2 with Oct-1 in transactivation of lactogenic hormones-induced β-casein gene expression in mammary epithelial cells. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 204:185-94. [PMID: 24861805 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Octamer-binding transcription factor-1 (Oct-1) is found to mediate lactogenic hormones (prolactin and glucocorticoids, HP)-induced β-casein gene expression in mammary alveolar secretory epithelial cells (MECs). The mammary gland also expresses Oct-2 isoform. In this study, we show that Oct-2 is also involved in HP-induced β-casein expression. Oct-2 endogenously binds to the β-casein promoter in MECs, and HP induce Oct-2 binding activity via mechanisms other than increasing Oct-2 expression or inducing Oct-2 translocation to the nucleus. Oct-2 transactivates HP-induced β-casein gene expression and this function is exchangeable with Oct-1. In MECs, Oct-2 is found to physically interact with Oct-1 regardless of HP treatment. However, HP induce physical interactions of Oct-2 with both signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR). These results provided biochemical evidence that Oct-2 may form a heteromer with Oct-1 in induction of β-casein gene expression by HP in MECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Qian
- Laboratory of Lactation and Metabolic Physiology, Department of Animal Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Feng-Qi Zhao
- Laboratory of Lactation and Metabolic Physiology, Department of Animal Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
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Haricharan S, Hein SM, Dong J, Toneff MJ, Aina OH, Rao PH, Cardiff RD, Li Y. Contribution of an alveolar cell of origin to the high-grade malignant phenotype of pregnancy-associated breast cancer. Oncogene 2013; 33:5729-39. [PMID: 24317513 PMCID: PMC4050040 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy-associated breast cancers (PABCs) are tumors diagnosed during pregnancy or up to 5 years following parturition, and are usually high-grade, connective tissue-rich, and estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor-negative. Little is known about the cellular origin of PABCs or the mechanisms by which PABCs are initiated. Using the RCAS retrovirus to deliver the ErbB2 oncogene into the mammary epithelium of our previously reported MMTV-tva transgenic mice, we detected high-grade, poorly differentiated, stroma-rich and ER-negative tumors during pregnancy and lactation. These high-grade and stroma-rich tumors were less frequent in involuted mice or in age-matched nulliparous mice. More importantly, by generating a WAP-tva transgenic line for expression of ErbB2 selectively in WAP(+) mammary alveolar cells, we found that tumors had similar morphological phenotypes (high grade, poorly differentiated, stroma-rich and ER-negative), irrespective of the time since pregnancy and even in the absence of pregnancy. These data suggest that PABCs arise preferentially from an alveolar cell population that expands during pregnancy and lactation. This somatic mouse model may also be useful for preclinical testing of new prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against PABC.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Haricharan
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S M Hein
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Dong
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M J Toneff
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - O H Aina
- Center for Comparative Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - P H Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - R D Cardiff
- Center for Comparative Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Y Li
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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44
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Smith HW, Muller WJ. Transgenic mouse models--a seminal breakthrough in oncogene research. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2013; 2013:1099-1108. [PMID: 24298026 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top069765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse models are an integral part of modern cancer research, providing a versatile and powerful means of studying tumor initiation and progression, metastasis, and therapy. The present repertoire of these models is very diverse, with a wide range of strategies used to induce tumorigenesis by expressing dominant-acting oncogenes or disrupting the function of tumor-suppressor genes, often in a highly tissue-specific manner. Much of the current technology used in the creation and characterization of transgenic mouse models of cancer will be discussed in depth elsewhere. However, to gain a complete appreciation and understanding of these complex models, it is important to review the history of the field. Transgenic mouse models of cancer evolved as a new and, compared with the early cell-culture-based techniques, more physiologically relevant approach for studying the properties and transforming capacities of oncogenes. Here, we will describe early transgenic mouse models of cancer based on tissue-specific expression of oncogenes and discuss their impact on the development of this still rapidly growing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey W Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Goodman Cancer Research Center, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A3, Canada
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Gao Y, Lin X, Shi K, Yan Z, Wang Z. Bovine mammary gene expression profiling during the onset of lactation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70393. [PMID: 23990904 PMCID: PMC3749150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lactogenesis includes two stages. Stage I begins a few weeks before parturition. Stage II is initiated around the time of parturition and extends for several days afterwards. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To better understand the molecular events underlying these changes, genome-wide gene expression profiling was conducted using digital gene expression (DGE) on bovine mammary tissue at three time points (on approximately day 35 before parturition (-35 d), day 7 before parturition (-7 d) and day 3 after parturition (+3 d)). Approximately 6.2 million (M), 5.8 million (M) and 6.1 million (M) 21-nt cDNA tags were sequenced in the three cDNA libraries (-35 d, -7 d and +3 d), respectively. After aligning to the reference sequences, the three cDNA libraries included 8,662, 8,363 and 8,359 genes, respectively. With a fold change cutoff criteria of ≥ 2 or ≤-2 and a false discovery rate (FDR) of ≤ 0.001, a total of 812 genes were significantly differentially expressed at -7 d compared with -35 d (stage I). Gene ontology analysis showed that those significantly differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with cell cycle, lipid metabolism, immune response and biological adhesion. A total of 1,189 genes were significantly differentially expressed at +3 d compared with -7 d (stage II), and these genes were mainly associated with the immune response and cell cycle. Moreover, there were 1,672 genes significantly differentially expressed at +3 d compared with -35 d. Gene ontology analysis showed that the main differentially expressed genes were those associated with metabolic processes. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the mammary gland begins to lactate not only by a gain of function but also by a broad suppression of function to effectively push most of the cell's resources towards lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Gao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ruminant Nutritional Physiology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Xueyan Lin
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ruminant Nutritional Physiology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Kerong Shi
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ruminant Nutritional Physiology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Zhengui Yan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ruminant Nutritional Physiology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
| | - Zhonghua Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ruminant Nutritional Physiology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
- * E-mail:
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Bascom JL, Radisky DC, Koh E, Fata JE, Lo A, Mori H, Roosta N, Hirai Y, Bissell MJ. Epimorphin is a novel regulator of the progesterone receptor isoform-a. Cancer Res 2013; 73:5719-29. [PMID: 23867473 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Epimorphin/syntaxin-2 is a membrane-tethered protein localized extracellularly (Epim) and intracellularly (Stx-2). The extracellular form Epim stimulates morphogenic processes in a range of tissues, including in murine mammary glands where its overexpression in luminal epithelial cells is sufficient to drive hyperplasia and neoplasia. We analyzed WAP-Epim transgenic mice to gain insight into how Epim promotes malignancy. Ectopic overexpression of Epim during postnatal mammary gland development led to early side-branching onset, precocious bud formation, and increased proliferation of mammary epithelial cells. Conversely, peptide-based inhibition of Epim function reduced side branching. Because increased side branching and hyperplasia occurs similarly in mice upon overexpression of the progesterone receptor isoform-a (Pgr-a), we investigated whether Epim exhibits these phenotypes through Pgr modulation. Epim overexpression indeed led to a steep upregulation of both total Pgr mRNA and Pgr-a protein levels. Notably, the Pgr antagonist RU486 abrogated Epim-induced ductal side branching, mammary epithelial cell proliferation, and bud formation. Evaluation of Epim signaling in a three-dimensional ex vivo culture system showed that its action was dependent on binding to its extracellular receptor, integrin-αV, and on matrix metalloproteinase 3 activity downstream of Pgr-a. These findings elucidate a hitherto unknown transcriptional regulator of Pgr-a, and shed light on how overexpression of Epim leads to malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Bascom
- Authors' Affiliations: Life Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California; Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, Florida; College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York; and Department of Bioscience, Kwansei Gakuin University, Sanda, Japan
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Wei J, Ramanathan P, Martin IC, Moran C, Taylor RM, Williamson P. Identification of gene sets and pathways associated with lactation performance in mice. Physiol Genomics 2013; 45:171-81. [PMID: 23284081 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00139.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammary transcriptome analyses across the lactation cycle and transgenic animal studies have identified candidate genes for mammogenesis, lactogenesis and involution; however, there is a lack of information on pathways that contribute to lactation performance. Previously we have shown significant differences in lactation performance, mammary gland histology, and gene expression profiles during lactation [lactation day 9 (L9)] between CBA/CaH (CBA) and the superior performing QSi5 strains of mice. In the present study, we compared these strains at midpregnancy [pregnancy day 12 (P12)] and utilized these data along with data from a 14th generation of intercross (AIL) to develop an integrative analysis of lactation performance. Additional analysis by quantitative reverse transcription PCR examined the correlation between expression profiles of lactation candidate genes and lactation performance across six inbred strains of mice. The analysis demonstrated that the mammary epithelial content per unit area was similar between CBA and QSi5 mice at P12, while differential expression was detected in 354 mammary genes (false discovery rate < 0.1). Gene ontology and functional annotation analyses showed that functional annotation terms associated with cell division and proliferation were the most enriched in the differentially expressed genes between these two strains at P12. Further analysis revealed that genes associated with neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and calcium signaling pathways were significantly upregulated and positively correlated with lactation performance, while genes associated with cell cycle and DNA replication pathways were downregulated and positively correlated with lactation performance. There was also a significant negative correlation between Grb10 expression and lactation performance. In summary, using an integrative genomic approach we have identified key genes and pathways associated with lactation performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Wei
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Epigenetic modifications unlock the milk protein gene loci during mouse mammary gland development and differentiation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53270. [PMID: 23301053 PMCID: PMC3534698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unlike other tissues, development and differentiation of the mammary gland occur mostly after birth. The roles of systemic hormones and local growth factors important for this development and functional differentiation are well-studied. In other tissues, it has been shown that chromatin organization plays a key role in transcriptional regulation and underlies epigenetic regulation during development and differentiation. However, the role of chromatin organization in mammary gland development and differentiation is less well-defined. Here, we have studied the changes in chromatin organization at the milk protein gene loci (casein, whey acidic protein, and others) in the mouse mammary gland before and after functional differentiation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Distal regulatory elements within the casein gene cluster and whey acidic protein gene region have an open chromatin organization after pubertal development, while proximal promoters only gain open-chromatin marks during pregnancy in conjunction with the major induction of their expression. In contrast, other milk protein genes, such as alpha-lactalbumin, already have an open chromatin organization in the mature virgin gland. Changes in chromatin organization in the casein gene cluster region that are present after puberty persisted after lactation has ceased, while the changes which occurred during pregnancy at the gene promoters were not maintained. In general, mammary gland expressed genes and their regulatory elements exhibit developmental stage- and tissue-specific chromatin organization. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE A progressive gain of epigenetic marks indicative of open/active chromatin on genes marking functional differentiation accompanies the development of the mammary gland. These results support a model in which a chromatin organization is established during pubertal development that is then poised to respond to the systemic hormonal signals of pregnancy and lactation to achieve the full functional capacity of the mammary gland.
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49
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Yamaji D, Kang K, Robinson GW, Hennighausen L. Sequential activation of genetic programs in mouse mammary epithelium during pregnancy depends on STAT5A/B concentration. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 41:1622-36. [PMID: 23275557 PMCID: PMC3561979 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks1310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factors Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) 5A/B mediate prolactin-induced mammary development during pregnancy. However, it is not clear how the different processes, expansion and maturation of alveolar precursor cells and the differential induction of milk protein genes are regulated on a molecular level. We have used mouse genetics and genome-wide analyses to determine how altering concentrations of STAT5A and STAT5B impacts mammary epithelial development during pregnancy and the regulation of target genes. The presence of only a single Stat5a or Stat5b allele was sufficient for the establishment of histologically undifferentiated alveolar units and two alleles permitted the execution of a differentiation program similar to that found with all four alleles. While one copy of Stat5 induced limited expression of target genes, two copies activated a lactation-like gene signature. Using ChIP-seq analyses on intact tissue under physiological conditions, we found that highly expressed and regulated genes were bound by STAT5 in their promoter proximal regions, whereas upstream binding had minor biological consequences. Remarkably, 80% of the genes bound by STAT5 in vivo were not under STAT5 control. RNA polymerase II intensity was directly proportional to STAT5 concentration only on STAT5 regulated genes providing mechanistic insight by which STAT5 activates mammary specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Yamaji
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
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García-Zaragoza E, Pérez-Tavarez R, Ballester A, Lafarga V, Jiménez-Reinoso A, Ramírez Á, Murillas R, Gallego MI. Intraepithelial paracrine Hedgehog signaling induces the expansion of ciliated cells that express diverse progenitor cell markers in the basal epithelium of the mouse mammary gland. Dev Biol 2012; 372:28-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Revised: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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