Biological Function of Plasma Kallikrein in Mammary Gland Stromal Development and Tumor Metastasis
Abstract
The plasminogen cascade of serine proteases has been affiliated in the mammary gland with both development and tumorigenesis. We have found that the dominant plasminogen activator during mammary gland stromal involution is plasma kallikrein (PKal), and that active PKal appears in connective tissue-type mast cells in the mammary stromal during different phases of development. Thus, to determine the role of PKal in mammary gland involution, a prekallikrein-deficient mouse is being produced that will be analyzed for developmental defects as well as defects in mammary gland tumor metastasis. After unanticipated difficulties in the cloning of a knockout construct, correctly targeted embryonic stem cell lines have been established that will be used to make the PKal knockout mouse. Additionally, examination of the extra hepatic expression of PKal has shown that PKal message is present in the mammary gland, and that increased expression levels correlate to periods of stromal remodeling.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA462440
Entities
People
- Jennifer Lilla
Organizations
- University of California, San Francisco