Constitutive expression of mature transforming growth factor β1 in the liver accelerates hepatocarcinogenesis in transgenic mice
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) is a potent inhibitor of hepatocyte growth both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we analyzed the effects of TGF-β1 on both naturally occurring and diethylnitrosamine- induced hepatocarcinogenesis using single transgenic TGF-β1 and double transgenic c-myc/TGF-β1 mice in which the expression of both transgenes was targeted to the liver. Hepatocellular tumors developed spontaneously in 59% (10 of 17) of the TGF-β1 mice by 16-18 months of age. Coexpression of TGF- β1 and c-myc transgenes in the liver accelerated hepatic tumor growth in both the presence and absence of carcinogenic treatment. Moreover, diethylnitrosamine-initiated tumors in the c-myc/TGF-β1 mice showed a high rate of malignant conversion associated with a reduced expression or lack of TGF-β receptor type II. The results suggest that overexpression of TGF-β1 may contribute to liver carcinogenesis and that loss of TGF-β receptor type II transduced inhibitory growth signals and up-regulation of c-myc are critical steps in liver tumor progression.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Cancer Research |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 11 |
Pages (from-to) | 2089-2095 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0008-5472 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 1997 |
ID: 257668463