Role of Whn in Mammary Gland Development and Tumorigenesis
Abstract
We are studying the function of Whn, a winged helix/forkhead transcription factor, in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis. Previous work from our laboratory investigating Whn function in the skin has shown that it has roles in both proliferation and differentiation. Consistent with this data, mice lacking functional Whn have defects in the formation and function of the mammary epithelia. We have shown that Whn is expressed in nuclei of mammary epithelial cells, and that it is present at times when the gland is undergoing periods of proliferation and differentiation. Transgenic mice have been created in which Whn is targeted to the mammary epithelium by use of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter. These mice will be used to characterize the effects of increased Whn expression on mammary gland development and function. Investigation of Whn in human breast cell lines has indicated that the protein is expressed at low levels in normal breast cells but may be decreased or lost in some tumor cell lines. This indicates that loss of the protein, rather than a gain of function, may be involved in the malignant progression.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388627
Entities
People
- Ruth Baxter