The Role of NF-kB in Normal and Transformed Mammary Epithelium.
Abstract
Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality for women in the United States and represents the highest rate of new cancer cases for women. A knowledge of the molecular signaling pathways which when perturbed result in mammary cell transformation will provide us with vital information in the fight against this disease. The NF-kB family of transcription factors are a major component of signal transduction pathways regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and death. We are attempting to determine the role they play in the development of normal and transformed mammary epithelium. Our hypothesis is that nuclear expression of specific NF-kB factors is necessary for the proper differentiation and maturation of mammary epithelium and that alteration in the expression of kB factors can effect transformation of mammary epithelium. We have created lines of transgenic mice which perturb NF-kB levels by overexpression of the family member already suspected to be involved ill carcinogenesis (NFkB2) and of a dominant negative inhibitor of NF-kB activity (IkB alpha-delta N) in the mammary gland. Preliminary characterization of expression patterns and phenotypes are presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA363652
Entities
People
- Fiona E. Yull
Organizations
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center