Progenitor Cell Fate Decisions in Mammary Tumorigenesis

Abstract

We proposed that alterations in histone methylation regulate MSC fate commitment and predispose these progeny to malignant transformation. Transformed ER+ epithelial cells deregulate proliferation of MSC and luminal progenitors contributing to transformation of ER- luminal and basal cells and development of treatment resistant breast cancer. Specific Aim #1 tested the hypothesis that EZH2 regulates both ER and DNA repair gene expression in MSC resulting in the differentiation of ER+ but transformation sensitive mammary epithelial cells. Our preliminary results indicate that inhibiting EZH2 expression in luminal progenitor cells significantly reduced histone H3K27me3 levels. These epigenetic changes increased DNA repair activity in luminal progenitor cells. DNA repair was significantly inhibited in MSC transduced with Rad50 and NBS1 shRNAs. Transplanted MSC with reduced Rad50 or NBS1 expression but not EZH2 inhibited luminal progenitors reconstituted mammary fat pads.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA542770

Entities

People

  • David L Crowe

Organizations

  • University of Illinois at Chicago

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • African Americans
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Estrogens
  • Gene Expression
  • Glands
  • Instructions
  • Mammary Glands
  • Neoplasms
  • Programmed Cell Death
  • Stem Cells

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology