Mouse Models of the Neu Ligand Interaction With its Receptor in Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis and Development.
Abstract
The erbB family of receptors and their cognate ligands, the neuregulins, have been implicated in a number of human malignancies. We have generated a mouse model of breast cancer by targeting the expression of one of these molecules, neuregulin Beta2c, to the mammary gland. The results suggest that neuregulin can induce a variety of developmental and differentiative effects in the breast. These effects include the inhibition of terminal differentiation of the ductal tree, hyperplasias, and eventual tumor formation. When mated with another line of transgenic mouse overexpressing the c-myc gene, tumors of the breast are formed more rapidly, presumably through the inhibition of Myc-induced apoptosis. We have also used homologous recombination to generate mice lacking a functional c-neu allele. These mice are embryonic lethal, with aberrent neuronal development. We believe that cardiac development is unaffected in these animals, though it is a lack of cardiac trabecular development that has been suggested by other to be the cause of death.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA326468
Entities
People
- Ian M. Krane
Organizations
- Harvard College